CH 4.
'Adjusting to new lives'
[Zephir's Manor, Evening]
Kit opened the basement door as slowly as possible hoping not to disturb Zephir, opening the door more she saw scratch marks on the wall as well as a considerable amount of dried blood that had splattered but Kit didn't see any of the slaves, horrified Kit shut the door behind her and locked it so it appeared to be in use before racing up the stairs.
"ZEPHIR!" Kit yelled searching the many rooms in the mansion, she never heard an answer busting in one of the rooms out looking the other mansions she found him looking out the large window not even acknowledging her presence.
"What did you do?" Kit asked trying to mask her fury and fear.
Zephir didn't answer her just continued watching out the window as the Vampires started emerging from their mansions to prowl, Zephir detested how they acted higher then the gods but hunted like animals.
"What did you do!?" Kit yelled letting her fury show, was he trying to destroy her organizations plans?
"Zephir talk!" Kit shouted taking a step towards him but when she did she almost jumped back as Zephir stood up quickly.
"Don't you dare." Zephir growled a warning deep in his chest.
Using his vampiric speed to move around the bed he sat on to tower over her, Kit took a step back before pausing and stepping forward hesitantly.
"You don't scare me.." she said a tremble in her voice looking him in the eye.
Zephir stayed silent and unmoving.
"Sit." Kit said more confidently seeing Zephir's injury.
Initially refusing he was coaxed to sit down again.
"I'll be back." Kit said walking out silently, returning with medical supplies, pouring alcohol into a bowl dabbing a rag into the bowl but when she tried to lay the cloth on his head Zephir grabbed her wrist.
"Let me help you. I'm not hurting you." Kit said sternly.
Releasing his grip on her wrist she continued what she had started as soon as it was laid on his injury he unflinchingly let loose a long low growl.
"Ok I'm not gonna hurt you intentionally." Kit said with a softer tone.
Zephir just let her finish what she was doing.
"See? Feel better?" Kit asked in an attempt at being cheerful.
"I'm fine." Zephir said shortly.
When she got up slowly she stayed locked to his eyes.
"You have my gratitude." Zephir said after a few moments looking at each other.
Kit then left without another word walking away she had a smile, when she left the room Zephir stood up from the bed and returned to the attic's music room he inspected the old piano finding the name Fletching carved into it, Zephir then knew this had belonged to his mother.. years ago.
[Slaver's basement]
Kit took a rag from a bucket of water she started washing the blood she noticed a shadow on the wall she assumed it was Zephir but turned anyway she turned around to see a tall man his name was Thad Murdoch one of the slavers.
"Ms. Settridge where is your cattle?! Kit I knew you would do this you never liked slaves growing up!" Murdoch laid into her.
Mr. Murdoch please! I didn't do this they.. escaped..!" Kit lied.
"How would they escape except through the door I just entered from!?!" Murdoch yelled.
"The Rebels." A voice from behind Murdoch sounded off.
Murdoch turned to find the source of the voice.
"You would do well to never speak to my fiancee in that manner again!" Zephir growled in an almost demonic voice still towering the man.
"And... you are?" Murdoch asked voice now smaller.
"There is a secret passage there." Zephir said never answering his question.
Murdoch turned to where Zephir pointed, Kit was mouthing curses at Zephir, when Murdoch pressed the stone a passage did open revealing a tunnel that looked like it burrowed towards the Settridge Mansion.
"What in the name of--" Murdoch murmured before being hit on the head.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Kit asked voice echoing off the walls.
Zephir didn't answer as he started to chain the unconscious vampire to the wall.
"Zephir... answer me.." Kit said watching Zephir leave.
He stopped at the bottom step never turning to face her. "I'll finish him in the morning.. I couldn't keep slaves." Zephir said before leaving.
[Sunrise, City rooftops]
Zephir had dragged Murdoch up the wall of a building as the sun was beginning rise over the tops of the buildings.
"You can't seriously intend to do what I think you are!" Murdoch shouted trying find a way out if this.
Zephir hoisted him up the side of the building, the first rays of light were beginning to show now.
"Would you kill yourself!?" Murdoch shouted struggling against his chains, Zephir stopped for a moment to punch Murdoch in the knee bending forcing the knee backwards Murdoch screamed in pain as he was again pulled toward the light.
"Please!" Murdoch screamed in fear and pain.
Zephir grabbed him by his neck hoisting the vampire up with one arm exposing them both to the light.
Murdoch's last words before burning down to his skeleton were: "You're only half.." Zephir held the skeleton up longer then he needed never breaking contact with his victim's eyes the entirety of the time even as a skeleton he never broke eye contact until his bones charred and turned to dust in his hands only then did he leave back to the Cathedral.
[Cathedral, Mid-day]
Zephir holstered his new gun which he still had never used he picked up a hand mirror setting it in his inner coat pocket he pulled a ring from a abandoned offering basket for the church and placed it in his pocket as well he sat in his chair in the attic of the cathedral he fiddled with the old bird cage hanging near the window the Sun rays hit his hand he inspected how the rays shown through his fingers, Zephir eventually found his way into his pants pocket pulling out a small locket with the crest of the Bouiser family on it he clicked it open to reveal the pictures compartments were empty, Zephir stared at this for a few minutes before clasping it shut and replacing it in its respective pocket rising from the chair he packed what little clothing he had into an old ratty backpack opening the doors of the Cathedral Zephir stepped out into the City it had been years since he walked these streets in the day he saw people going along their meager lives those who were not slaves lived very poorly yet they seemed ... content Zephir somewhat envied them making his way through the streets Zephir came to the gates of his own mansion opening the gates he entered closing the gates behind him walking up to the large double doors Zephir swung them open.
Kit had been sitting on the bottom step of the grand staircase she seemed to have been crying wiping at her eyes as she turned towards the doors sniffling but noticing Zephir she turned away quickly to try and make herself look presentable.
"I wasn't expecting you back yet.." Kit said with a sniffle never looking back.
After some silence she turned around to look at him again still standing in the door way looking at her.
"Could you close the doors please?" Kit asked.
Zephir stepped in and closed the doors behind himself.
"What's that?" Kit asked gesturing to the backpack.
Zephir dropped it on the floor. "Belongings." Zephir said simply.
Realizing what this meant Kit gasped quietly standing up. "You're certain?" Kit asked hiding her relief, would he truly go along with the plan?
"Come." Zephir said walking up the stairs.
Kit followed behind him quietly they made their way up to the music room before he took a seat at the piano.
"Do you sing?" Zephir asked.
"I don't know.." Kit answered weakly.
"Sing." Zephir said plainly as he started to play a tune on the piano.
Kit recognized the song and looked down to see her old music sheet on the piano.
She her voice broke a bit when started to sing.
Zephir stopped playing and turned to look at her. "Don't fear me. Sing." He said in as calming a voice as he thought he could do.
Kit calmed down a bit. And resumed singing as he resumed playing the familiar tune.
When she sang she found it sweet that he didn't even smirk at her singing voice he just listened and when the song ended he spoke.
"I will stay." Zephir said with a certain darkness.
"Thank you." Kit said sincerely, we should try this again.. sometime.." Kit added.
"Tomorrow." Zephir said after hesitating mentally.
"Tonight we need to go back to base.. tell them about Murdoch.." Kit said.
"Why were you crying." Zephir asked no emotion in his voice.
"I guess. I didn't think you would come back.. that I wouldn't be able to help these people." Kit said honestly.
"I didn't mean cause you any worry.." Zephir said with no emotion.
"It's ok.. C'mon we can go now. Kit said seeing the sunlight was gone from the window.
Zephir rose from his seat and stalked behind her as they left the mansion.
For those wondering about the song i thought about making one myself but thought that Kit always sounded like Amy Lee from Evanescence Zephir sounds like Steve Blum from Final Fantasy. so i went with the song they are singing is Hello by Evanescence. hope you like this chapter!