Charlie's POV:
Charlie looked at Alastor as he smiled at her. Something about him was telling her to be afraid, not to trust him. But another part of her was telling her to help him. She knew she had to help him. She couldn't be afraid after he had saved her from those guys. Before Charlie could say anything, she saw Vaggie step forward to her side and glared at Alastor.
"Excuse us..." Vaggie said, and slammed the door in Alastor's face, again.
"Vaggie, that was really rude!" Charlie looked at her friend shocked, who turned back to her.
"Charlie you can't trust him, I don't. How do we know if he's telling us the truth? He's probably lying just to get something else out of us instead of just trying to get rid of his competitors." Vaggie said, as she turned to glare at the door.
Charlie blinked at her words before turning to the door. She knew Vaggie was right, a part of her didn't exactly trust Alastor either, but another part of her was kinda telling her to not be afraid. She didn't want to be afraid, if she was then how was she supposed to help the vampires if she allowed fear to control her. Charlie turned to Vaggie, and smiled softly at her.
"We don't know that Vaggie. I mean, you may be right. But, what if later he actually wants to be turned human? This is why I want to help. I want to help the vampires, and not just them but I want to help humans too. I want us all to have faith that there is a way for a better life without the need for violence and death. How can I turn someone willing to help away? I can't Vaggie. I know he's bad but you don't have to worry, I can take care of myself. I promise you, I'll be careful." Charlie said, smiling at Vaggie who still looked at her worried.
"Charlie please, don't make a deal or accept anything from him." Vaggie said, still trying to talk her friend out of the idea.
"I'll be fine, I promise. Besides I have you to help and have my back." Charlie said, hugging her friend before walking to the door.
Normal POV:
Charlie opened the door, only to freeze in place at what she saw on the other side. Vaggie walked over, looking over Charlie's shoulder and saw Alastor still outside but he wasn't alone. Next to him sat a group of men all, badly beaten up, and tied up by thick rope. Crushed metal of what once were weapons on the ground all over the place. Alastor was casually cleaning his glasses with a crimson handkerchief, before placing them back on his face, and smiled again.
"Apologies for this Ma Belle Rose. These gentlemen appeared to have followed you and have conspired something sinister against you. Fear not, I took care of it." Alastor said, smiling as he gave a gentlemanly bow.
Charlie and Vaggie walked out and walked closer to the men tied up, as Angel appeared at the doorway.
"Who the fuck are these clowns?" Vaggie asked, looking at the men when Charlie gasped.
She recognized them, even with the minimal light from the porch and the lights on in the building, they were the same group who had tried to attack her before when she had been walked home from the farmers market.
"T-They are the men who threaten me... the ones I told you about." Charlie said, turned to look at Vaggie who turned to her surprised before she turned to glare at the unconscious bunch.
"Wait, theres only six here, weren't there sev-Ah!" Charlie began before she felt something grab her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides as she felt something cold touch her throat.
Vaggie turned around, pulling out her Glock 19 and pointed it at the man holding her friend hostage.
"Let her go you bastard!" Vaggie shouted at the leader of the group, holding her best friend hostage.
Alastor smiled at the man his usual smile as Charlie struggled against the man's grip.
"No way! This bitch needs to be taught a lesson! We don't want her to work with those stupid blood sucking monsters!" The leader shouted, tightening his grip on Charlie, causing her pain as she flinched.
"Y-Your hurting me!" Charlie stuttered, struggling to break free and flinched at the man griping her painfully.
"My good sir, this is you'r only warning. Let the lovely belle go or you will be sorry." Alastor said, still smiling at the man holding Charlie hostage.
He narrowed his eyes at the leader, who glared back at him, holding the knife closer to Charlie's throat.
"You have no say in this you blood sucker trash! This is her own fault, it's her punishment!" The leader shouted, pressing the blade against Charlie's throat more.
Charlie gasped as she felt the blade was pressed against her neck, piercing her skin. Vaggie's eye widen in shock at seeing a small trickle of blood begin to slowly trail down Charlie's throat. Charlie's eyes widened more when she suddenly found herself free, causing her to collapse on her knees. She reached up to her neck and touched it before she pulled her hand back and saw her finger tips soaked in her blood. Charlie turned around to find Alastor holding the leader, twisting his arms behind his back. Her eyes widened in shock when she witnessed Alastor sink his fangs into the leader's throat, as the man silently screamed. Charlie stared in shock and disbelief, before she felt someone gently grab her shoulders and gently pulled her up to her feet. She was then pulled into the hospital and the doors were shut close by Angel.
Vaggie began to pull Charlie to the lab to treat the cut when Charlie pulled away from her grip and headed for the door.
"Charlie, what are you doing?! You can't trust him! He killed that guy! He's dangerous!" Vaggie said, trying to get her friend to see reason.
Charlie struggled against Vaggie's grip and pulled the door opened, to find Alastor standing on the other side again, hand raised to knock on the door. He was completely covered in blood and his right hand was completely soaked and dripping even more blood too, and not just from his own. He looked down at Charlie, who stared up at him before she ran over and looked over his arms and chest, looking for any physical and serious injuries, as Vaggie and Angel watched in surprise.
Charlie sat in her lab, staring down at her lap as she allowed Vaggie to tend to the cut on her throat. She flinched when Vaggie lightly dabbed her cut with a cotton ball soaked lightly in rubbing alcohol.
"Hold still." Vaggie said and continued to dab the cut before Vaggie set the tweezers down and gently placed a big bandage on the cut.
"There." Vaggie said before turning to dispose of the blood covered cotton balls as Charlie looked down at her lap.
"You're mad... aren't you...?" Charlie muttered after a minute of silence and Vaggie paused.
Charlie peaked over at Vaggie, who was looking away from her. Vaggie's long dark hair was covering her face, making it difficult to see her expression. Charlie looked away and went back to staring at her lap, clenching her hands. She very much understood why Vaggie disliked and didn't trust all vampires. She remembered the dark day when she and Vaggie were both nine, and Vaggie had lost her family. Charlie hadn't known what had happened back when she had been little, but after a few months, she had learned that Vaggie's family had all been murdered by a group of vampires. She had learned of the disturbing details from Vaggie, and what she had learned, horrified her.
Charlie looked over at Vaggie, knowing she had began training soon after being saved, trying to find and kill the vampires responsible for the murders. She reached over to try and grab Vaggie's hand, when Vaggie pulled her hand out of her reach. Charlie looked at her hurt and looked away, staring down at her lap.
"I'm sorry Vaggie... I know you don't trust him or like him. Or Angel. Or any vampires.. I'm sorry for being a pai-" Charlie said, when Vaggie stood up from her stool, and knocking it to the ground.
Charlie looked at her shocked, before she flinched at Vaggie's glare at her.
"Shut up! Don't say that! You'r not any of that bullshit!" Vaggie shouted.
Vaggie looked at Charlie in annoyance as Charlie looked back at her surprised.
"B-But—" Charlie began, when Vaggie held her hand up.
"No, wait. Before you finish that sentence, let me say something." Vaggie said before picking her stool up, and sat back down on it, facing Charlie.
"You know how I feel about those disgusting blood sucking monsters. But don't go thinking because you allowed one of the most dangerous ones in here, that I am going to turn against you. You have been there for me after what happened to my family. Now I want to be here with you, and I'll stay by your side even during these confusing times. Even afterwards." Vaggie said, smiling at Charlie, who began to tear up at her friend's words.
"V-Vaggie…. " Charlie muttered before gently tackling Vaggie into a hug, and Vaggie hugged her back, smiling.
The two girls pulled away from their hug, and Charlie picked up the tray with the blood covered cotton balls and tools.
"I'll clean the tools and throw away the used cotton balls." Charlie smiled at Vaggie, who gently grabbed her shoulder to stop her.
"Wait Charlie, here." Vaggie then handed Charlie her garlic infused pepper spray.
Charlie took the bottle and looked down at it, before she looked up at Vaggie.
"Vaggie, it's ok. I don't—" Charlie began, when Vaggie gently grabbed both of Charlie's shoulders.
"Keep it on you. I would feel better knowing you're armed to protect yourself. Maybe I'll teach you later to use a gun as an extra precaution." Vaggie said, and Charlie bit her lower lip.
She knew there was hardly anything to change Vaggie's mind when it came to protecting her.
"O-Ok." Charlie said, putting the pepper spray away into her pocket.
Vaggie gave a nod, before she began to make her way to the door,
"I'll go make us something to eat."
Charlie smiled as she disposed of the cotton balls into a hazard bin before she began to disinfect the pliers. Vaggie closed the door and she began to make her way down the hallway, when she paused on her tracks. Alastor was making his way down the hallway, a tray in his hands as he hummed casually to himself. He paused in his tracks when he spotted her in his path, and he smiled at her as Vaggie glared at him.
"Where are you going?" Vaggie demanded, her hand itching to reach for her gun and shoot him.
Alastor smiled at her as he held up the tray, and Vaggie noticed Charlie's coffee mug sat on it and steam was coming from it.
"Just carrying a cup of tea to Charlotte." Alastor explained, smiling at Vaggie who narrowed her eyes at him.
"You, making tea?" Vaggie said, suspiciously at him as she walked over and looked at the contents in the mug.
Alastor allowed her to look at the drink before he stepped around her, and continued to make his way down the hallway. Vaggie narrowed her eyes before she turned back to him.
"Hold it!" She said, and walked over to him, as Alastor stopped in his tracks.
He turned to her as Vaggie narrowed her eyes at him again,
"How do I know you didn't poison the tea?" She demanded.
"I am a vampire. For what reason would I have to use poisons?" Alastor asked, smiling at her.
Vaggie still looked at him suspiciously before Alastor continued to walk down the hallway. Vaggie turned and made her way to the kitchen. She walked into the kitchen to find Angel looking over a large pot on the stove. She noticed steam coming out of the pot, and walked over to see a soup slowly cooking.
"The strawberry pimp made it from scratch." Angel said, moving back smiling as Vaggie stared at the food.
"He made it? How did he get some of these ingredients?" Vaggie muttered to herself, finding it suspicious.
Charlie typed away on her computer, looking at the screen. She turned back to her two notebooks she had written notes in, looking over her findings. She was a little concerned with what little information she had. She wasn't close to finding a cure with what little fundings they had, and she really needed many medical equipment. Without the needed funds or equipment, she couldn't continue with the tests and the project would be lost. Sighing, Charlie rested her forehead into her hands, staring down at the notes. She was so concerned over what to do with the decreasing budget and lack of equipment, she didn't hear the knock on the door. The door opened, and she didn't notice at all under she heard a soft thud next to her. Charlie looked over and saw her mug filled with tea was set next to her. She looked over to see Alastor smiling at her.
"Is something bothering you, Ma Belle Rose?" He asked, tilting his head curiously.
Charlie smiled a bit as she took the cup into her hands.
"It's nothing Alastor. Thank you for the drink." She said before looking down into the mug to see the liquid inside was white.
"Your very welcome. It's earl grey steeped with milk and three teaspoons of honey." Alastor said, and Charlie looked up at him surprised, before smiling down at the mug.
"Thank you." She said and took a small sip.
She was curious to know how Alastor knew how she liked her tea but she shrugged it off. She set the mug down next to her computer, closed her note books and moved them to the side. She was too focused on her work on the screen, she didn't notice Alastor staring at her. Alastor walked behind Charlie and looked over her shoulder at the screen, causing Charlie to freeze in place.
'H-He's really c-close...' she thought to herself, trying to focus on her work as she typed on her laptop.
"This is very interesting Ma Belle Rose. You really are working hard on this." Alastor said, whispering into Charlie's ear.
He smiled as he turned to look at her from the corner of his eyes. His smile grew a little more as he could hear her heart beat increasing in her chest. Charlie looked down at her lap, unable to respond as she felt her cheeks burning up from how close Alastor was to her. She was trying to calm her heart beat as her hands shook a little from nervousness.
"T-Thank you.." Charlie muttered, and Alastor smiled at her.
He leaned closer to her, his cheek an inch away from touching Charlie's as he chuckled,
"Is something wrong Ma Belle Rose? You seem distracted." He said, before resting both his hands on the table in front of him and Charlie.
Charlie went completely stiff as she found herself trapped between Alastor and the table. Alastor smiled as he leaned closer, his breath hitting Charlie's ear.
"You seem very flushed." He whispered, reaching over to touch her chin when Charlie flinched a bit.
"W-Wait, s-stop!" Charlie shouted, standing up from her seat and moved away from Alastor.
He stepped back, smiling as he watched her move a few feet away from him. Charlie touched her cheeks as she felt her face completely red. She took in small deep breaths as she tried to calm her raising heart, not noticing Alastor walking up to her. He leaned closer and whispered to her, as he rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Why so shy Charlotte? It's very amusing, my dear." He said, slowly turning her around to face him.
Charlie looked up at him as he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. She found herself staring into his eyes as he stared back into hers. Alastor leaned down, his nose lightly brushing against hers. Charlie bit her lower lip as Alastor leaned down more, the tip of his nose brushing against the side of her neck.
"A-Alastor..." Charlie muttered, before Alastor gently began to unbutton the first three buttons on her shirt.
He looked up at her and smiled again, his fangs flashing in the little light in the room.
"Yes, Ma Belle Rose?" He asked, leaning closer more.
Charlie opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out as Alastor stared up at her. He than reached up, and gently pushed her head up a little, giving him better access to her neck.
"I am happy to finally have found you love, you have no idea how long I have searched for you." Alastor whispered more, confusing Charlie.
He reached up further and gently stroked her right cheek,
"I promise I won't leave you alone ever again. I vow we will be together from now on." He continued to whisper, as Charlie swallowed, her throat felt completely dry.
Charlie tried to speak again, but her brain felt completely blank and fuzzy. She continued to open her mouth but still, nothing came out as Alastor looked at her, waiting for her to say something. He began to leaned down to her throat as Charlie tried to react. She wanted to push him away, to get away, she didn't want him to bite her. But she found herself not wanting to move away, she didn't feel like she was in any danger around him. Alastor smiled again, his lips just barely brushing against her exposed skin, sending shivers down Charlie's spine as she found herself staring at the ceiling.
"A-Alastor... what are… you talking a-about…?" she finally managed to stutter, slowly closing her eyes as she tried to regain control of herself.
Alastor looked up at her and his wide smile turned into a smaller, soft one. He than turned to glare in the direction of the lab door, his smile disappearing as he sensed someone making their way to the lab.
Vaggie walked down the hallway heading back to the lab. She was happy she gave Charlie the garlic infused pepper spray, but she still felt uneasy leaving her friend with the creep blood sucker. She has long since considered giving Charlie some pointers and lessons on using a gun, as an extra form of protection. She looke down at the floor, thinking about how Charlie had always been there for her since the tragic night when her family was murdered in front of her.
She pushed the dark memories to the back of her head as she approached the door and knocked.
"Charlie, you there?" She called, and waited, before a full few seconds went by and no answer.
She instantly went in high alert, Charlie always replied right away. Vaggie grabbed the door knob, turned it and pushed the door open as she pulled her gun out from her holster. Vaggie entered the lab, gun raised and paused. Alastor was at the desk, leaning over Charlie, both their backs to her.
"Get the hell away from her!" Vaggie shouted, pointing her weapon at Alastor's back.
She was about to pull the trigger when, Alastor turned to her and hushed her.
"Keep your voice down." He whispered, causing Vaggie to glare at him.
"What did you do to her?!" Vaggie shouted, charging at him and pulling a silver knife from her pocket.
She was an inch away from stabbing Alastor in the heart, when he caught her wrist, hushing her again. Vaggie struggled to break free when she finally noticed he was only wearing his dress shirt, and dark vest. His jacket was placed over Charlie's shoulders, as she was asleep. Vaggie pulled her hand away, and ran to Charlie, shaking her awake.
"Charlie, Charlie. Charlie, wake up." She said, in a panic.
Charlie whimpered and continued to sleep as she muttered,
"Ten... more minutes... mom..."
Vaggie turned and glared at Alstor, who just stood nearby smiling.
"What did you do to her?!" Vaggie shouted, raising her gun.
"Please calm down my dear, I did not harm her." Alastor replied, hands raised as he took a step back.
Charlie's eyes slowly opened and she sat up, rubbing the sleep away as a sticky note stuck to her right cheek.
"K-Keep it down..." she let out a soft yawn, before she finally noticed Vaggie was there and pointing her gun at Alastor.
"Vaggie! Stop!" Charlie shouted, grabbing her friend's arm to make her let go of the gun.
Vaggie had her stop as she lowered her arm before turning her full attention to Charlie, holding both her shoulders.
"You're awake. What did he do?" She demanded, standing in front of Charlie with full worry written on her face.
Charlie rubbed her right eye and moved a strand of hair out of her face.
"Nothing, I was working and he was just... asking questions about my work... and... I guess I fell asleep." Charlie explained, as Vaggie gently removed the sticky note from her face.
Charlie blushed embarrassed at seeing the sticky note that had been attached to her face, as Vaggie turned to glare at Alastor from the corner of her eye. Alastor eyed both girls and just smiled at them both.