Apologies for the longer than normal wait for a new chapter. I had to work a bunch of overtime because we were short staffed again which always leaves me too exhausted to write. And then of course there was Christmas. I hope that you guys have been doing okay in the meantime, and thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews! I'm so glad that you're enjoying the story so far and I hope that it continues to be just as exciting for you!
Chapter VI – Breaking Point
Darkness ate at Seras' vision for the briefest of moments before she was met with an orange glow. Anastasia's grip on her hand never loosened, but the young vampire found herself glad of this fact. It was rare that Seras ever travelled this way, usually for the very reasons that had occurred earlier – she was so damn clumsy. She usually just preferred launching herself everywhere. But she didn't have too much time to dwell on that right now. Instead, her thoughts became consumed with wondering where she was and what exactly Anastasia's plan for her was.
Red eyes began to take in everything in front of her. The darkness and the assumption that she was in some sort of underground cavern comforted her vampire instincts. But at the same time, she kept herself on guard, especially when she could sense that the two of them were not alone… far from it. Powerful auras surrounded them, and Seras couldn't help but take an automatic step back, ready to bolt at a moment's notice. Fear gripped her, paralysing her to the spot.
"Do not show any fear," Anastasia finally spoke, focused solely on whatever was ahead of them. "You are Draculina; you are above them. Hold your head up high and do not let them see that you are afraid."
Before Seras had a chance to process her new mentor's words, she was being pulled forward. Her eyes darted around nervously, trying to take everything in. It appeared that her assumption of an underground cavern had been correct. But just how far underground were they? The space around them seemed vast, and intricate shapes and patterns had been carved into the orange hued stone that glowed in the torch light. It almost looked like it could have been some sort of temple. Seras' breath caught in her throat at the ancient beauty of it all.
All around her, she could see tunnels or corridors that led to who knows where. Voices filled the air, echoing around them, making Seras feel like she was surrounded. Relax Seras, just remember what Anastasia said to you, she thought to herself. Anastasia was her new mentor now, and the last thing that Seras wanted to do was embarrass the both of them. After all, that was what had led to all of the trouble with her master…
Gulping, Seras stiffened her posture even more before forcing her shoulders to relax. She could really sense the sheer number of powerful creatures that surrounded her now. They were all congregated within the large opening that Anastasia was leading her towards. Vampires. Lots of them. Seras didn't think she had ever been with so many of them. The atmosphere was crushing. So much power and danger all in one closed in space. It was enough to cause her to start hyperventilating.
As if sensing this, Anastasia gripped Seras' hand tighter in warning. Seras flinched, but otherwise tried to do as she was told. It was likely that the red vampire's advice was what was going to keep her alive.
The already vast cavern widened even more, looking much larger than a great cathedral. Carved into the stone were what looked like seats that raised higher and higher as the rows continued. The centre was almost completely barren apart from the sheer amount of vampires that had gathered in there, all of them conversing with each other. Seras' eyes scanned as many faces as possible. There appeared to be many vampires from different walks of life. Some looked like they had stepped straight out of a historical drama while others appeared more modern. There were so many different ethnicities and cultures all gathered together, leaving the draculina in complete shock. Vampirism almost seemed like a virus. Had it truly spread all over the world? Just how many of her kind were there?
"Actually not that many. Our numbers have dwindled severely over the years," Anastasia answered her thoughts.
Seras looked up to see that the older vampire had been watching her reaction carefully. Though she hated people invading her thoughts, Seras for once didn't mind as there was probably no way she would have been able to voice them coherently. This was all so much to take in. Her third eye could sense their powerful auras with ease. Some were older and more powerful than others, but what struck Seras the most was that they all appeared to be true blooded vampires. There was not a single freak in sight. These guys were the real deal. The true walkers of the night. They were… they were just like her…
"Not one hundred percent," Anastasia continued to reply to her thoughts, "remember what I said about you being above them."
"But I… I don't understand?"
"What's there to understand? These may be powerful vampire nobility, but you are vampire royalty."
"Because of my master," Seras replied sourly.
Anastasia smirked. "In a manner of speaking."
Seras turned back towards the crowd, unable to take her eyes off them all once again. She could easily pick out the fledglings as they shadowed and followed their masters like lost puppies. Holy shit, had Seras looked that when she had been with her master? It made her feel pathetic, but through watching the others, it did seem like something that was natural. Almost like a duckling imprinting. Seeing the masters and fledglings also sent a stab of pain through her chest, akin to the blessed silver bayonets that Father Alexander had pierced through her body.
Nearly whimpering at the pain, Seras turned her attention away from them to take in more of the cavern. It reminded Seras of an old Roman colosseum.
"Wait…" Seras finally voiced her thoughts as all the pieces fell into place. "Is this place what I think it is?" She turned to gaze at Anastasia with wide eyes.
"Correct, young one, it's a fighting arena." Anastasia's smirk widened, her cheeks looking like they were about to crack like a porcelain doll from the strain. "I thought it would be wise to show you how true vampires fight against each other. It will provide you with insight into what you will be learning. Now, follow me."
Seras obeyed without a word, slowly following Anastasia towards the large crowd, some of which had already begun to seat themselves on the side-lines. The young draculina tried to remain as invisible as possible behind Anastasia as they grew closer to the others. Eyes finally began to turn towards them, some of them bowing their heads at Anastasia.
"Lady Anastasia, we weren't expecting to see you here," one of the males greeted. "Where is the rest of your coven?"
"They have some important business to attend to," was all Anastasia casually responded with while Seras remained hidden behind her.
"I see," another male replied. "Anything we should be concerned about?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, please, everything is all in hand. Or do you no longer trust one of the highest members of the King's council?" Her tone was ambiguous as it blurred the lines between a joke and a threat. It had many of the other vampires backing down immediately, however, their eyes darted around as they remained on edge.
"Then why do I sense something?" the first male who had spoken barked.
"It… it… it feels like the King…" a female gasped. "But that's impossible…"
Seras stiffened.
Anastasia merely chuckled. "The King remains… incapacitated."
The room visibly relaxed slightly, but many still remained confused and on edge. It caused Seras to furrow her eyebrows. What kind of a ruler was her master that most people seemed afraid of the very mention of him? Then again, Seras had seen first-hand just how scary her master could be. Though her fear of him relaxed over time and she became more comfortable around him, she was still very much aware of the invisible boundaries that commanded her respect. He was the master. She was the servant. Those were their clearly defined roles that Seras always adhered to. It was instinctual from the moment she had awoken to her new un-life.
Perhaps one day Seras would ask Anastasia about all of these weird instinctual things that seemed to come as part of a package deal when becoming a vampire.
"Now that formalities are out of the way, is tonight's event going to start any time soon?" Anastasia regained her playfulness. "After a long day of work, I could use some entertainment."
Entertainment? This was all for entertainment? This really was just like a Roman colosseum. This is what vampires… relaxed to? Honestly, Seras felt like she shouldn't be surprised at that point. Clearly, it wasn't just her master that got off on violence. It was a vampire thing. A few decades ago, Seras probably would have enjoyed all of this, but right now, she just wished that she was safely on her own somewhere and not surrounded by vampires who looked like they ate people like her for breakfast… literally.
Anastasia turned towards the seating area, finally revealing Seras to the crowd of powerful vampires. Some of their eyes widened as they froze in place, while others hissed and jumped back. Masters stood in front of fledglings, covens huddled together in defensive positions, and all the while Seras tried to remain as neutral as possible, repeating Anastasia's words over and over again in her head. Do not show fear. Do not show fear. Do not show fear. Do not show fear.
"What's this little thing here?" one of the braver males asked. Seras turned to look at him, taking in his glowing red eyes and silver hair that was tied back into a pony tail. His features were sharp, reminding Seras of an elf, and he appeared to be dressed like an aristocrat from the eighteenth century. He leaned forward on his cane slightly, looking the young vampire up and down as if she was an exhibit in a museum.
"I knew I sensed something!" someone else whispered harshly from behind.
The entire crowd then began mumbling to each other.
"Who is she?"
"Why does she smell like the King?"
"What game is Anastasia playing this time?"
"It's got to be a trick."
"Look at her neck; she's still just a fledgling!"
"Then why does she feel so powerful?"
"Could it be…?"
"Surely not…
"Didn't the last time he tried to make a fledgling result in his enslavement?"
"Where's her master? Surely being so far from them at this young age would send her mad?"
Seras growled and squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her hands into fists at her sides. Their panicked, fascinated and bitter mumbling was all becoming too much for her. She felt her cheeks flush as they continued to talk about her. This was so humiliating! Why couldn't Anastasia have just kept her hidden, or better yet, not take her into a place full of old, powerful vampires?! She felt like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Draculina…" some of the crowd began whispering to each other in realisation.
Seras' wide eyes glanced back to Anastasia, mentally pleading for her help. The woman in red simply stood there smirking, seemingly fighting the urge to laugh. Her red eyes were wild with glee. It filled Seras with no comfort at all. Was this all just one big joke? The young vampire really didn't understand this woman at all. One moment she was all serious when telling her what to do, and then next she was finding hilarity in the most dangerous situations.
"Anastasia, what is the meaning of this?!" what seemed to be one of the eldest vampires demanded.
Anastasia giggled. "Oh how silly of me, where are my manners? May I present to you all a genuine Draculina, Seras Victoria."
Some of the crowd stepped back in fear while others stepped forward in interest.
Seras remained as still as a statue, waiting with bated breath for whatever happened next. All eyes were on her, and the air fell into a heavy and oppressive silence. Blood flowed rapidly in her ears and her palms began to feel clammy. Her nails dug into her flesh and her fangs dug into the inside of her lips. If ever there was a time Seras wished the ground could swallow her up, it was now. What were they all thinking? Most likely they already viewed her as weak and pathetic. If the no-life King had banished her, then surely they would correctly assume what a disgrace she was.
"How is that possible?" a brunette woman turned to ask Anastasia. "The King is enslaved; how could he create a fledgling? Surely the Hellsing organisation would have destroyed her?"
"The King rarely creates fledglings, what's so special about this girl?" another woman sneered.
"I have a few ideas," one of the younger males – clearly still a fledgling – purred. Seras turned to face him only to squeak in shock and annoyance when she realised that his eyes were not on her face.
"Knock it off!" Seras yelled at him without thinking, crossing her arms over her chest self-consciously.
Much to Seras' satisfaction, the boy's master smacked the back of his head. He winced and quickly averted his eyes downward once again.
"I do apologise for my fledgling's behaviour, my lady," his master, a rather stern looking blonde haired woman, spoke. "He is still new to this life and has yet to learn proper respect."
Seras knew the feeling.
"Just what game are you playing, Lady Anastasia?" the silver haired vampire spoke up again, never taking his eyes off Seras, as if she was a snake that was about to strike at any moment.
"No games," Anastasia responded innocently. "I am simply here with my new student for training purposes."
Some of their eyes finally averted from the shiny new Draculina to narrow at Anastasia.
"Why are you teaching her?" the same female who had sneered before demanded. "Shouldn't that be the King's responsibility?"
Seras already had a feeling that she wasn't going to like this woman. Their red eyes finally met properly for the first time, but Seras stood her ground and remained unflinching. It seemed that even the vampire world had queen bitches. She reminded Seras of one of the receptionists back at the police station when she was still human. The memories were faded slightly, but Seras could never forget a woman like that. She made Seras' life hell when it came to paperwork, and for some reason always spread rumours that she was sleeping around with every officer she worked with. The joke was on her though since Seras was still a virgin – the very reason she was in this mess in the first place.
The female vampire even looked similar to that receptionist. They could have been the same person if not for the fact that Seras could sense this vampire was a few hundred years her senior. She didn't feel that particularly powerful though. Not compared to most people gathered there anyway. Despite her age, she appeared to choose to dress in a more modern fashion. Her silk emerald dress contrasted beautifully with her long ginger hair. Her pretty face, however, was ruined by what seemed to be a permanent scowl.
"That is royal business, Lady Eleanor," Anastasia replied more harshly, leading Seras to believe that she liked the woman no more than what she immediately did during her first impression.
Anastasia then turned to the rest of the crowd, switching back to her serious persona. "Seras is under my care and you will treat her with the respect as befitting of someone of her station. On pain of death, no one is to harm a single hair on her head. Any acts against her will be treason," she added darkly.
Some of the vampires exchanged weird looks.
Anastasia then smiled gleefully again. "Now, are we going to enjoy tonight's events, or what?" She then grabbed hold of Seras' wrist and pulled her towards the seating area once again. She led her towards the top corner, as far away from everyone else as possible.
Despite this, red eyes kept constantly drifting back to Seras, causing her to shift in her seat uncomfortably. No doubt the whole vampire world would definitely know of her existence now. She knew there would have had to have been rumours about her, especially given the amount of vampires she had managed to accidentally piss off, but now everything would be confirmed. The thought alone terrified her. What could this mean? Her stomach sank, already knowing the answer. She'd be hunted down without a doubt. Word would probably reach Hellsing. Maybe even her master would be sent to kill her.
Years ago, Seras had never really thought about her heritage. When working for Hellsing, it was meaningless. She was too busy trying to come to terms with what she had become, and then protecting Integra during her master's absence. It wasn't until she reached the continent that she finally had to face who and what exactly she was. She was not just any vampire, but a vampire created by the most powerful vampire to have ever existed: Dracula. The name alone was enough to send a shiver of fear up anybody's spine. His blood ran through her veins. His mind flowed into hers. His powers became hers. His very essence consumed her. It was these very facts that marked her out as different. Something to fear. Something to destroy. Like she was a creation of the devil himself.
Seras shook her head to dispel the intense thoughts.
"You did very well," Anastasia said as she leaned down to speak to her.
Seras blinked. "I didn't feel like I did. They all hate me and think I'm pathetic."
Anastasia chuckled. "Hate you? Probably. Think you're pathetic? I doubt that. You stood your ground, and even though I knew you were scared, you couldn't tell from the outside."
"I don't want them to hate me," Seras whispered, sinking further down.
"Them hating you is a good thing; it means they see you as a threat," the red vampire purred.
"How is that a good thing?"
"Because they fear you. You'll soon learn that fear is necessary to control vampires. It's the only language they listen to apart from blood. It's what keeps them in line. It's what keeps them from consuming every human on the planet, leaving us all to slowly starve to death. That's a main difference between true Nosferatu and these freaks that have been appearing lately. Freaks have no fear. They are arrogant fools and will consume all the blood in the world without hesitation. A true vampire exerts self-control and knows when to step back and bide its time," she explained.
Seras' eyes narrowed as she took in everything that Anastasia said to her.
"True vampires recognise the value of humans, even if they are beneath us in every possible way. As glorious as it is to consume and bathe in their blood like the monsters we are, we do not slaughter without good reason – usually hunger or defence," Anastasia continued. "Fear is what keeps this system in place. We can bring about the end of the world if we so choose, but where would be the fun and glory in that? It would only result in our own demise, and that is very stupid, wouldn't you agree?"
"I… think I understand." Seras frowned. "But what does this have to do with me?"
Anastasia laughed. "Because as royalty you instil that fear that keeps them in line and from doing whatever they desire at any given moment. It is your fate as a vampire. You automatically outrank them and they hate it. You, a mere fledgling who is barely halfway into her first century of this life, already outrank them and are far more powerful than they could ever hope to achieve. You can do things they can't, get away with things that they can't, and above all, you caught the attention of the King himself. That, my dear, is no easy task."
"So they're… jealous?"
"Ravenously envious." Anastasia continued to laugh.
Seras buried her face in her hands, unable to take it all in. This was all so stupid. All she had ever wanted was a quiet life, and now here she was making enemies out of powerful creatures that she didn't even know. They had automatically placed her in a box which marked her as tainted, and as an evil creature that should not even be touched with a stick. She didn't want to control people through fear! Especially without even trying! She just wanted to mind her own business!
"None of this is anything to be ashamed of," Anastasia interrupted Seras' internal meltdown.
Seras was about to respond before she was interrupted by the loud cheers of the vampires around her. Their attention was captured by the two vampires entering the fighting arena, both of them smirking eagerly as they faced each other. Anastasia watched in anticipation while Seras began feeling sick. This was all becoming much too real for her. The reality of her situation was crashing down on her.
She watched as the two vampires bowed to each other before laughing as the fight began. It started off slow and simple, and some of the more eager members of the audience yelled their displeasure as the two fighters threw punches at each other. Some heckled, yelling for them to stop fighting like pathetic mortals, but this appeared to be the exact reaction the fighters were after. They both picked up the pace, grinning as they morphed into shadows, much to the satisfaction of the audience.
Seras gasped as demonic eyes filled the dark space the two figures once stood. Like beasts from hell, they snarled at each other before darted forward. Their forms collided in mid-air, tearing chunks out of each other. Gooey black flesh was sent flying in all directions. Eyeballs exploded from the pressure of sharp teeth, and it wasn't long before the ground beneath them was bathed in blood. This only served to excite the audience even more, the heavenly aroma of pure vampire blood rising into the air, causing ravenous shrieks to echo around the large cave system. It was all so animalistic.
The young draculina's red eyes remained glued to the fight, and she couldn't help but mentally place herself in the position of one of the fighters. As if she was studying for a test, Seras began wondering what she would do in their situation. Would she have managed to avoid that bite? That kick? How long would she manage to stand her ground before she was defeated by inexperience? These weren't even the most powerful vampires, yet they knew tricks that Seras could never have possibly imagined.
Anastasia spoke about how powerful Seras was supposed to be, but she just didn't see it. If she had been thrown into that arena right now, she wouldn't last a second. That didn't exactly exude power. It then truly hit Seras in that moment just how much she had to learn. She knew all the basic tricks and that was it. She had known enough to battle humans, ghouls and freaks, but nothing on this level. It was like skipping from level one to level one hundred.
Feeling dizzy, Seras stood up and quickly made her way out of the nearest doorway, able to finally breathe easier the further away she got from the exhilarated cheers of the other vampires. The more steps she took into isolation, the safer she also began to feel. She was in way over her head going into a place like that. She was nothing. She was worthless. Anastasia was just filling her head with rubbish.
Being the fledgling of the King didn't automatically make her above everyone else! That was all just a load of shit! She wasn't powerful or special by any means. After all, that was why her master had cast her aside in the first place. Was Anastasia just after his leftovers because she was bored and had nothing better to do? Was roping her coven along with her? No wonder Edmund seemed pissed off with the situation. No wonder Levi treated the whole thing like a joke. Then there was Eva. Was she in on all of this?
Tears burned in her eyes as Seras thought about the one person who she felt like was becoming her one and only friend in this life. Seras had been stupid to even think that she could trust someone. She needed to remember that she was in this for one purpose only: to train enough to be able to defend herself. After that, she would run away and start a new life alone. Far far far away from everything else. No more angry masters, no more supernatural organisations, no more crazy vampires, and no more of other people taking control of her life!
"My my, shouldn't a fledgling know better than to wander off alone?" a cruel sounding voice cackled from behind her.
Seras gasped and twisted around to see one of the males that she vaguely remembered seeing in the crowd. He had remained silent throughout the whole incident, just watching events unfold. Apart from his sinister smile, there was nothing remarkable about his features. He had the typical red eyes of a pure blood vampire, pale skin, and thick wavy brown hair that fell to his shoulders. He was dressed in a black dandy suit, making him look like a business man.
"Go away," Seras snapped, not in the mood for dealing with anyone else who decided to mess with her. She'd had enough of that to last a lifetime at this point.
"You can act the authoritarian figure as much as you like, girl, but we both know that it's all a front," he retorted with a roll of his eyes.
"Says who?" Seras replied sarcastically.
The male grinned. "I've heard stories about you, Draculina."
Seras cringed.
"A vampire who refused to drink blood for so long. Who refused to accept what she had become. Who lost an arm to a mere freak," he continued mocking her. "How is it that someone such as yourself deserves the status that you possess? A stupid little girl. An innocent English rose. Tell me, just why exactly did the great Dracula himself turn you into one of our kind?"
"I don't know!" she snapped back.
"Perhaps you were another one of his stupid experiments," he replied for her, and Seras frowned in confusion. "That's the only possible explanation. Then when this one inevitably failed like the others, he tossed you aside like a used toy. We all know how fickle the King can be after all."
"So what?" Seras retorted. "I don't see how any of this is your business." His true words stung her like a thousand bees, but she did her best to hide it.
"It is my business when you could be what stands in the way between me and more power!"
"Excuse me?"
He sneered in a very familiar way as he looked her up and down. "My sister is ten times the vampire you are. Yet the King keeps chasing stupid little creatures such as yourself."
Seras sighed in annoyance. "I have no idea what you're talking about!" However, her protesting was quickly silenced by her neck being held in a steely grip. Her back was pushed against one of the cavern walls, the stone tearing through her white blouse as she was pressed against it. Her air supply was cut off as the male vampire leered down at her, looking at her as if she was nothing more than a disgusting cockroach. For fuck's sake, for once Seras would just like to make it through one day without someone trying to kill her!
Her foul mood supressed her fear as she gazed into the red eyes of her attacker. She was too tired and angry to be afraid. She was sick of being bullied around by all of these other vampires who were inferior to her! Seras froze before frowning in confusion at her own thoughts.
"I'm going to take great pleasure in killing you," the male growled as he lowered his face closer to her neck. Seras stiffened, and the scar on her neck burned slightly at his close proximity.
Where was Anastasia? Hadn't she noticed that she was missing? She was the one who had insisted that no one harmed her and that she was under her care. But then again, Seras was sick of relying on everyone else. That was what she always did. Even if she died trying, Seras was going to stand on her own two feet for a change. This vampire was going to pay for his disrespect. He was going to pay for threatening her life.
"That's too bad," Seras found herself purring right back, much to the male's shock. "Because it's a pleasure you're never going to receive."
Without warning, Seras lunged forward and clamped her jaws around the other vampire's neck, causing him to let out a startled, pain-filled yell. He managed to pull himself free, but in the process, Seras had managed to tear off a large portion of his flesh. His warm blood filled her mouth, and Seras found herself sighing in ecstasy. The look of horror and confusion on his face was enough for her face to erupt into a grin. She let his torn flesh drop from her mouth before licking the blood from her lips. As soon as the life-sustaining liquid oozed down her throat, her body cried out for more. Drink the traitor dry! Her inner monster practically howled.
The male vampire cupped his ripped neck with his hand, trying to stop himself from losing more blood. The sound of flesh knitting back together filled the cavern, and Seras decided to let him enjoy his moment of false security. She was going to be tearing into him so fast that his body wouldn't even have time to heal. She would string him up by his own entrails. Rip his heart out and shove it down his throat, making him choke on it as he turned to dust.
"But… but you're a fledgling!" the male yelled in horror and disgust, still cupping his bleeding neck as he interrupted Seras' fantasies. "Nothing but a discarded toy of the King!"
"Could a toy do this though?" Seras taunted before lunging forward at lightning speed to rip off one of his arms. He screamed in agony, falling to his knees as he glared up at her. Blood squirted from the stump like a grotesque fountain. Muscles and tendons hung down from where his arm used to be as his suit was further stained with crimson blood. The squelching sound of torn flesh was music to Seras' ears. Finally, she was showing them just what happened when she was pushed around. When she was pushed towards her breaking point.
She dropped his arm to the ground, watching in slight morbid fascination as the nerves in the limb continued to twitch like it had a mind of its own. Her third eye branched itself out, keeping its attention on her prey. Despite his age, his aura was nowhere near as strong as some of the other vampires. He was nothing but a pathetic piece of shit who arrogantly placed himself above everyone else – above her!
Her mind was wild with rage and she glared down at him, her red eyes glowing as shadows began swirling around her like an evil armour forged in the fires of hell itself. "Oh dear, it appears that you have lost your arm to a mere fledgling."
The poetic justice was not lost on the male vampire as he bared his teeth at her. "Fuck you, bitch! I'll tear you apart!"
Seras threw her head back and laughed, her fangs lengthening even more. "Please do! It'll only prolong the fight!"
As the male vampire threw himself forward to pounce on her, her shadows wrapped around his remaining arm and his legs. They held him in the air, sprawling him in front of her and leaving him at her mercy. He summoned his own shadows, but Seras' were far too powerful and dominating. She may not be experienced with a lot of things as a vampire, but if there was one power she was an expert at controlling, it was her shadows. All of those years without an arm had paid off. Her finely tuned shadows squeezed the vampire within their tendrils tighter. Drinking just a few drops of his pure blood had only made them even more powerful. What would draining his body completely do to her? Seras smirked with anticipation.
"And my name is not 'bitch'," Seras growled out as she stalked towards him. "It's not 'Draculina', or 'police girl', or 'kitten' or any other stupid name anyone wants give me. It's Seras Victoria!"
The male vampire's eyes could only widen in horror as Seras once again lunged for his throat.
Dun dun dun! I originally struggled with the first part of this chapter, but then it kind of ran away with me. Here's hoping that the next update won't take me nearly as long, but that all depends on whether work decides to be nice to me or not. Thank you guys so much for reading, and wish you all a very happy new year!
