How did I miss the signs? Vanitas thought desperately. If I'd only been paying more attention…
As he skid about the corner he finally found the storage facility and within that facility…
Noé.
Another shocking murder takes Paris by surprise. Are vampires making a reappearance?
Vanitas frowned at the headline. It was the third one this week and yet it was remarkably hush-hush.
He set it aside on the table in frustration and crossed his arms. It wasn't that headlines about murder particularly shocked him but what was so annoying was how he was certain there was something amiss with these ones in particular. The fact it was a vampire was certainly cause for concern but there weren't any specifics; tabloids loved to give as many lurid details as possible. If anything, the article was short and to the point: bodies were being found drained of blood. So far there weren't any leads.
I'm sure it's some kind of malnomen, he thought. But if that's the case why hasn't Orlok said anything?
Across from him Noé was adding a cube of sugar to his tea. He wouldn't be adding any cream.
Knowing such an unimportant detail would have bothered him in the past but Vanitas knew most of Noé's habits by this point and he'd long since stopped wondering whether he should be paying attention to any of it. Noé liked tea with a cube of sugar, no cream. He liked spring days after a rain shower because he wanted the flowers to bloom as swiftly as possible. He enjoyed dancing and had no qualms with Vanitas being his partner. He carried sorrow with him from his childhood and it was his main motivator for helping him cure curse bearers.
Vanitas had let him drink his blood to prevent him from dying during one of those excursions.
No one was more surprised than himself that he'd done it but the thought of Noé dying after everything they'd been through…
Well, being able to look across the table and see him there made it worth it. He made a point not to wonder what Noé had seen of his memories precisely and Noé hadn't asked him any questions so far. He'd been a wreck briefly, afterwards, where he couldn't quite tell who he was, but they'd overcome that. Vanitas was more than happy to let the matter lie at this point.
He rubbed at his neck idly as he mulled the paper over some more. Sometimes he was amazed Noé had remained at all. He was hardly good company and now that Noé knew everything he'd been so sure…
Now you've seen my past. What are you going to do?
What do you mean?
You've… satisfied your curiosity.
I might know your past, Vanitas, but I still don't know what you're going to do in the future.
Such a simple statement but it had taken him wildly off-guard. Apparently, Noé still found him interesting as a person.
It was a bigger relief than he wanted to admit.
"The tea is unusually good today," Noé said with a satisfied sigh.
"What kind is it?" Vanitas said distractedly. He poked at his own dish. It was some kind of soup but seeing as it didn't feature any shellfish he had a hard time feeling excited about it.
"I think it's Darjeeling," Noé said, taking another considering sip.
He and Noé had opted to have breakfast in Hotel Chou Chou's restaurant rather than fetch something on the go, which was unusual for them but, much to Vanitas's consternation, was becoming more common.
"It smells nice," Vanitas said.
"I agree; it mixes perfectly with this pains au chocolat as well," he said, his face radiating that childlike joy he only ever seemed to get about sweets and mysteries. Vanitas truly didn't understand the appeal of desserts and here Noé was eating it for breakfast.
"But you seem to be in a dour mood this morning," Noé said. "What's wrong?"
He pushed the newspaper across the table, pointing at the article in question. Noé read it over carefully, a crease forming in his brow the further in he got.
"That certainly isn't good," he finally said, taking a bite out of his pastry. "But I'm not sure why this is bothering you specifically. We'll look into it and resolve the matter, won't we? We're always tending to these affairs."
"Something about it seems off. A vampire going about in the human world, feeding off of them, should get a more sensational headline than this. You remember the reporting on Thomas Berneux; it should be more like that, filled with details and speculation."
"Our first case," Noé said thoughtfully. "I remember hearing the humans gossiping about vampires on La Beleine."
"Precisely," Vanitas said. "Instead, everything about this is very quiet. I wonder if the murders are more grisly than they're letting on or perhaps the constables are actually exercising some power for once and have put a limit on what can be said."
"It doesn't say anything about who's been murdered?"
"No. Strange, don't you think? Stranger still that Orlok hasn't bothered to ask for our services."
"Hmm…" Noé skimmed over the paper once more. "Surely we could ask him?"
"If he's going to be stingy with information I'd rather not bother yet. Besides, I'm fairly certain he's annoyed with me."
Noé quirked a brow at him. "Perhaps this is why he has not called for us? Whatever did you do?"
"Nothing serious," Vanitas muttered. "I was just … looking for information."
"You were snooping," Noé said, taking a sip of tea.
"In a manner of speaking."
"Well," Noé said consideringly as he glanced over the information one more time. "It looks like it took place in central Paris. Shall we take a look and see what we can find?"
"I was hoping you'd say that," Vanitas said with a wide smirk.
Noé grinned in return and folded the newspaper. "Then let us be on our way."
"Ahh, look at this!" Noé called, drool forming at his lips as he took in the delectable tarte tatin on display in the window.
"You already had breakfast," Vanitas said in exasperation.
"But I didn't have this," Noé said, his look of awe only increasing the longer he stared at the apple dessert.
Vanitas let out a long-suffering sigh. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get something. I wonder if they have anything else in there." He wouldn't mind an omelette himself-he hadn't eaten much of his breakfast in his haste-but he serious doubted a pastry shop would have anything of the sort.
They'd been wandering about Paris for an hour now and Vanitas was getting close to admitting he really didn't know where they should start. The paper certainly hadn't been specific about where the murder had taken place and Vanitas didn't have any contacts with law enforcement. He'd often considered finding someone he could bribe in the department but it ultimately seemed like too much work when he could usually just pay Dante to sort things out.
"Really?!" Noé exclaimed.
"Yes," Vanitas said, holding back a fond grin. "If we're extraordinarily lucky maybe the shopkeeper will know something of what happened."
"I wonder if we should interview other store owners," Noé said thoughtfully as they stepped inside.
"Too much work," Vanitas groaned. "If we find nothing here I'm going to pay Dante."
Inside was a fairly standard dessert shop. There were several pastries lined up on the walls and on small tables throughout, each with a more enticing dessert than the last or so Vanitas assumed by the spark of desire in Noé's eyes. The color scheme was distinctly pastel with bright, mint colored wallpaper and smooth, white furniture. It made Vanitas's eye twitch in disgust. The only thing missing was the shopkeeper but conveniently there was a call bell on the front counter.
Before he could approach to ring Noé suddenly stiffened and gripped his shoulder tightly.
"Something's wrong," he said by way of explanation. "There's an odd smell about the counter. It's faint but it's definitely not any of the desserts around us."
He breathed in deeply, his eyes closed for focus. "I think it might be blood," he said. When his eyes opened they were crimson and he looked concerned.
Vanitas immediately gripped his daggers and unsheathed them smoothly. He allowed Noé to take the lead and together they cautiously approached. When they reached the counter Noé leaned over tentatively, holding his nose as he did so.
"Ugh," he said, quickly looking away. "That's awful."
Vanitas took a look and found a man lying, contorted, on the floor, his mouth stretched wide in a silent scream. His eyes had been gouged out and they were ringed with blood and bruises. Despite that, there wasn't any other overt damage to the body.
He inhaled sharply in his shock. His hands started to tremble and he braced himself against the counter as the sight of the man's mangled body brought up other memories of experimentation and madness.
Noé immediately gripped his arms to steady him. He murmured something-no doubt he was trying to take him away from the grisly visual-but Vanitas shook his head.
Steady, he thought. He couldn't lose his nerve now. He'd done that a few times before in front of Noé; he didn't want to do so again. He needed to analyze the situation for both their sakes.
The man was long since dead if Vanitas had to hazard a guess; aside from his gouged eyes the only noteworthy detail at the scene was a partially eaten piece of cake set innocuously on a small plate near his head. Had the man eaten it himself or had the perpetrator?
Vanitas's brow furrowed as he tried to piece it together. The man had dark hair and a slight figure. He supposed he was somewhere in his twenties at most. Most alarming of all was how fresh the body was. Whoever had done this could still be nearby.
"We should go. This is abhorrent," Noé said in disgust. "We need to inform the constables, Vanitas." He tightened his grip about him, urging him to leave. Vanitas shrugged him off and approached the body.
"Do you see this mark here?" Vanitas said pointing to a tattoo just peeking out from under the man's shirt. It was in the shape of a square with elaborate, flame-like lines jutting out.
"What about it?" Noé said, carefully crouching to get a better look. Judging by how stiffly he was moving it was reluctantly so.
"That's a vampire's mark," Vanitas murmured. "I wonder how he got it; he's nowhere near Altus."
"I don't know," Noé said. "But it would seem to indicate it's a vampire after all. Can we leave? I feel ill."
"Right. Of course. But we shouldn't inform the constables."
Noé opened his mouth to protest but Vanitas cut him off saying, "If this man was killed by a vampire like the others it becomes something vampires need to sort out. We'd do better informing Count Orlok. He can manage it from there." It seemed he'd have to speak with the man after all. How annoying.
Noé nodded reluctantly. Vanitas offered his hand to help him back over the body. Noé grasped it gratefully in silence. Neither of them mentioned how badly Vanitas was still shaking.
Much as he was loath to admit it, the sight of that body had brought back other memories he barely managed to keep at bay on a regular basis. He allowed Noé to shepherd him back inside Hotel Chou Chou without complaint even though Noé had his arm about him. It was more so out of necessity than desire, he knew. Vanitas was having a hard time keeping on track. If it hadn't still been daylight he had no doubt Noé would have picked him up like a sack of potatoes the way he normally did. He kept glancing at him worriedly and he wanted to shout that he would be fine. He should keep his nosy concern to himself.
He didn't do that because an equally strong part of him wanted Noé to comfort him after what they'd seen. He'd gone in expecting him to get another dessert while he interviewed the shopkeeper. He certainly hadn't thought the owner would be dead, much less mutilated in such a fashion.
When they reached Count Orlok's office Vanitas shrugged Noé off and put on his usual air of confidence. He burst through the door, internally smirking at the outraged reaction it garnered from his guards.
"What is it now?" Orlok said wearily.
"Murder most foul," Vanitas said without preamble and with far more cheer than he actually felt.
"What?" he exclaimed. His guards tensed, looking as if they wanted to throw Vanitas out but knew they couldn't.
Vanitas outlined the bare basics and Orlok's face turned stony.
"The two of you just decided to look into this all on our own?"
"What? You think you're in charge of this operation?" Vanitas said testily. "I'm informing you, aren't I? What's the problem?"
"Vanitas…" Noé sighed.
"The problem is that you're always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," Orlok said gruffly. "But seeing as you're involved now anyway I suppose I'll give you a few details if you want to help out."
"Is it a malnomen?" Vanitas said.
"No."
"Then we're not interested." Noé looked profoundly displeased with this statement. He was in for a long debate on the matter, he could sense it already.
"It is a vampire," Orlok said to his back. He'd been about to take his leave in an effort to get out of whatever they'd inadvertently walked in on in the first place. "One that has ties to the underworld."
Vanitas turned back around slowly, not missing the disapproving frown on Noé's lips. Oh, yes, he'd have to talk to him about this later.
"It's a vampire that's escaped prison named Clovis."
Vanitas's eyes widened. "What?" That name was familiar; he was one of the more notorious mass murderers in vampire history. How had he escaped? More importantly, why hadn't he been executed?
When he asked as much Orlok simply shrugged grimly and said his remaining family members were important enough to get a say in the matter. So it was a form of nepotism. It figured.
"He's been targeting humans, killing them and marking them after they die," he continued when they remained silent.
"That's obscene," Noé whispered.
"Indeed it is," Orlok nodded.
"It would explain what we saw though," Vanitas said. The name "Clovis" hadn't sparked any recognition in Noé's eyes. He'd have to bring him up-to-date at some point.
"We haven't been able to track him down. It wouldn't hurt to have someone of your skill sets on the case."
"You want us to double as part-time constables now? You must really be desperate."
"I am," Orlok whispered. "If we don't stop him soon humans will begin to take notice, more than they already have at any rate, and I'd rather not give them any reason to start a vampire hunt." His guards glanced at him apprehensively.
"That's why the newspaper was so quiet about this matter," Vanitas said slowly. "This is a much bigger problem than you can resolve on your own."
Orlok said nothing but his silence was as good as an affirmation.
"Why is he killing humans?" Noé said.
"We're not sure. He was well known for killing other vampires before he was locked away. His motive back then was to remove curse bearers, supposedly. Granted, a great deal of those he killed likely weren't cursed. He was insane."
"Humans can't be curse bearers," Noé pointed out. "So what is he after? Did he say anything before he escaped prison?"
Orlok appeared deeply unsettled judging by how tightly clenched his jaw was. Vanitas swore he could hear him gritting his teeth.
"Only that the 'impure of sight would be purified.' No, we don't know what that means."
"His eyes," Noé murmured.
"Gouged out?" Orlok guessed. "Yes, apparently he meant whatever he was going on about quite literally."
"What about cakes? Was he known for that?"
Orlok gave him a strange look. "Whatever are you going on about?"
He would take that as a "no" then. Perhaps it hadn't meant anything at all. But it was such a strange detail; it seemed purposeful.
"Why didn't you mention this to us before?" Vanitas said derisively.
"Like you said, if it's not regarding malnomen you're not interested. But seeing as you've already taken initiative I'd say you're part of the investigation."
"Vanitas, I think we should—"
"Give us some time to think it over," Vanitas said with a pointed look at Noé. "You're asking for rather a lot."
"Of course," Orlok said. "Let me know when you've decided."
When they stepped out Noé was quiet—far too quiet by Vanitas's estimation. They proceeded up the stairs and it was only when they were in their shared room that Noé finally said, "I don't know if we should help with this."
Vanitas arched a brow in surprise. "That's unexpected. I was certain you would be furious with me for having any hesitation at all."
"I was unhappy about that at first," Noé admitted. "But the more I hear about this case the more I wonder if it has anything to do with us. This 'Clovis' isn't a curse bearer."
"But he is a murderer and he could cause us some problems later. You don't think that's worth taking a look?"
Noé shifted uncomfortably. "It's just… He used to go after curse bearers, right? But now he's targeting humans."
"Yes, so?"
"Humans cannot be cursed by Charlatan in this manner. His motivations have completely changed."
"I'm aware of that. What is your point?" Vanitas said impatiently. He knew Noé didn't have a problem with humans; if anything he wanted to protect them a little too much judging by all Vanitas had seen. This was … strange.
Noé seemed torn before he finally said, almost pleadingly, "That man in the shop looked like you. Shouldn't we consider he might be angry someone has taken what he thinks of as 'his place?'"
"You're reading too much into the situation," Vanitas said uneasily. "There are plenty of dark-haired men out there. Besides, we don't know what the other victims looked like."
"In that case, I'll ask Count Orlok. But I think we should reconsider this in case he's targeting you."
More like he'd be targeting The Book of Vanitas if that's the case, he thought wryly.
Outwardly he said, "If he's targeting me then there's all the more reason to get involved, don't you think? Why should we cower before him?"
Part of him wanted to concede to Noé; he looked so earnest and lately Vanitas had been enjoying his smile a good deal more than he already had in the past. He'd tried not to think about why that might be too much.
Noé let out a frustrated sigh and took a seat on his bed. He had his hands in a subtle steeple before him, seemingly at a loss for words.
Slowly, Vanitas considered his arguments and realized, with a shock, what the problem really was. "Are you … worried for my sake?"
Noé gave him a withering stare. "Of course I'm worried. How could I not be?"
"You really shouldn't be," Vanitas said uncertainly. "We'll be working together. What do we have to worry about?" He forced out a chuckle. Noé didn't look reassured.
"Maybe nothing," Noé sighed. "But this isn't about malnomen or Charlatan. Maybe we should let it go."
"And yet he is indirectly related to both. Furthermore, he's marking dead humans like some kind of pervert. Don't you want to stop that?"
"Yes," Noé said quietly. "Normally I would volunteer without hesitation."
"Then do that now," Vanitas said. "I'm not some hapless woman you need to save, Noé."
"But I did promise to save you," Noé said with an air of melancholy. Vanitas inwardly cursed at the warm lurch his heart gave at those words. "Let's just be careful with whatever we choose to do, shall we?"
"My dear Noé, I am always careful."
Noé hummed neutrally. Vanitas supposed he didn't believe him on that count, and with good reason, but at least he wasn't frowning so much.
"I'm going to speak with Count Orlok," he said suddenly. "I think we need more details."
"All right," Vanitas said slowly. "Shall I come with?"
"No, I don't think I'll be long."
Vanitas's eyes followed him as he left suspiciously. Noé was acting downright bizarre.
For now, he had a certain dhampir to contact. He supposed he would allow Noé to sort out his misgivings in the meantime.
He made sure Murr was settled firmly on Noé's bed before he opened the window and hopped out.
He'd fill Noé in later.
Author Notes:
So, the prompt for this one is "sweets." I don't know what it says about me that I saw that prompt and immediately thought "murder!" XD Future chapters will hopefully make the connection a little more obvious. I'm thinking there might be about five but I'm not sure yet. The rest of the prompts (and these chapters) might be a little late for VaNoé Week because I haven't had a chance to do a first draft for them yet. Anyhow, let me know what you guys think. ^^
Originally posted on AO3 April 24, 2019.