The Search Is Over,
Chapter 115, Those Who Hunt The Night
When grieving the loss of a loved one, mornings can often be the hardest. During sleep the mind seeks to restore itself, and upon awakening, it crashes hard and brutally back to the reality where that lost loved one is dead. Regulus had the displeasure of rediscovering this unpleasant fact upon his own evening awakening, as evenings are mornings for vampires.
As soon as his mind returned to consciousness it was struck with the loss of his parents all over again. Ariana had been right. Seeing them, then losing them again was hard...Miserable even.
They were gone, and it hurt. He missed them both so very much. After speaking with them for so long yesterday, he could nearly imagine them sitting across from him at the breakfast table, Walburga reading the morning paper, and Orion being bored with it. He no longer ate breakfast, though, and his parents would not be downstairs when he got up.
Gods it hurt. With a soft groan, he turned onto his stomach, pressing his face into the pillow. His bed was the same. While normally that was a comfort, today it only served as a painful reminder of how different everything else was.
A slender arm slipped around his waist and Kreacher's body pressed closer. There, yes that was familiar and in the best of ways.
"Kreacher misses them too," the elf whispered.
Turning, Regulus embraced him, holding him close without speaking for several seconds. Kreacher made most things better, and when not, at least bearable.
"I love you," Regulus said, and Kreacher smiled.
"Kreacher loves Master Regulus as well."
"How are you feeling," Regulus asked, sitting up suddenly.
"You will need to feed, else you could feel weak or...ravenous."
Too much hunger could drive a vampire out of their mind, causing them to feed to excess or even on those they cared for. The hunger, if left unchecked, could destroy all self restraint. As a young vampire, he was always terrified of becoming feral due to such hunger and losing his humanity.
Some did and they could never function in society and lost everything, at times being put down by other vampires out of necessity. If such vampires were too careless they put others at risk by posing a threat to the secrecy required for vampires to survive. This sort of near animalistic vampire was always horrifying to Regulus. As a result, he always made sure to feed when Dora suggested it and never to push those limits even when deeply depressed.
Kreacher sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and sliding to the floor.
"Kreacher could eat...or drink...He is hungry whatever it is now called,"
He chuckled.
As Regulus hurriedly dressed, he contemplated the thought that he would have the task of training Kreacher in the skills that would keep him safe and sane as Dora had taught him. Dora, at least, had not believed this to be a particularly simple feat, as before him, she'd never turned another.
Suddenly the gravity of this hit him. Before he could ponder for too long, he was distracted by a tug on his sleeve. Kreacher stood close at his side, a concerned look on his face as he peered up at him.
"What troubles Master Regulus?"
"I was just thinking that I will be teaching you as Dora taught me. It is my job to keep you from going insane or feral."
Kreacher's lips twitched.
"Some would say that broom has already flown."
Regulus laughed, his concerns fading as Kreacher likely intended. The elf was stronger than anyone he knew, himself included. He would be fine. Regulus would make sure of it.
"You're funny," he said, bending to kiss Kreacher before taking his hand and walking from the bedchamber. As they descended the stairs, Regulus began to consider the best hunting spot for a new vampire not to feel too overwhelmed.
Somewhere too unpopulated would take longer, yet somewhere overly crowded could overwhelm Kreacher's mind. Yesterday Regulus had done all the work and been quick about it, but today he wanted Kreacher to at least begin learning a few techniques even if Regulus handled everything for the most part.
"What sorts of places did Dora take Master Regulus when he began to learn," Kreacher asked.
"You were reading my mind," Regulus said, grinning with pleasure.
"You're a natural."
Kreacher frowned, shrugging.
"Kreacher did nothing. Master Regulus's thoughts merely filtered into Kreacher's mind. He doesn't truly enjoy knowing the thoughts of others."
Regulus found this surprising. He would've assumed that Kreacher would absolutely relish knowing the thoughts of others to use for juicy gossip or in the case of those he did not like, leverage. Oddly enough, though, it was somehow charming and exciting to discover new things about his friend after all this time.
"Kreacher would have thought the same as Master Regulus before becoming a vampire, but now that he has had the experience of seeing into the thoughts of others, he finds it discomforting in a way he could never have foreseen," he said, obviously reading Regulus's last thought as well.
Mortis, who had flown down the stairs behind them, landed on Regulus's shoulder once they reached the bottom.
"Whose mind did you find disturbing," Regulus asked curiously.
"No mind in particular," Kreacher said as they approached the front door.
"Anyone's personal thoughts are uncomfortable for Kreacher to see. He saw some of Ariana's about her mother, how the woman never showed her love, and it made Kreacher feel uncomfortable. He also saw some thoughts of wizards and Muggles while we were out last night that he found unsettling due to their personal nature. Kreacher has learned that once in someone's mind, there are some things he can not unknow."
"I must admit, for you that is still surprising, but I understand. I was planning to teach you basic shielding tonight anyway. We can work on all forms exclusively if you like."
"Basic shields should be enough to start with,." Kreacher said, and Regulus nodded.
"As for where Dora and I started my basic training, I honestly can't remember," Regulus admitted, his mind returning to Kreacher's initial question.
"I was out of my mind with shock and grief plus adjusting to all the new and extra sensory input that you now see comes along with vampirism, so it's all rather hazy."
He dropped his gaze to Kreacher's face, just drinking in the elf's presence for a moment as old memories flooded him, mingling with the safety and reassurance of the present situation.
"I wasn't alright without you. Everything was different, and I didn't notice as much because I didn't care. Nothing bothered me when it came to the thoughts of others or much of anything else, because I had so much worse going on inside."
He glanced away as the discomfort of articulating such things rose up as it always did.
"Kreacher understands," the elf said quietly.
"Before we go out, I want to teach you a basic shield to block thoughts," Regulus said, pausing at the manor's front door.
It was nearly a relief to turn his mind to something practical to do in the present. Though much about those early days was hazy, he clearly remembered the way Dora had taught mental shielding. Sharing this nearly made Regulus feel as if Kreacher had been with he and Dora back then, and that thought was warming.
Kreacher squeezed his hand and smiled.
"Kreacher likes that as well."
Regulus chuckled.
"As you can so easily read my thoughts, I will show you how I do the shield as I speak of it, so watch my mind."
Kreacher nodded, gaze attentive and alert on Regulus's face.
"Think of a wall around the inside of your mind, something tough and solid, constructed of whatever you feel cannot be penetrated. This wall is intended to block thoughts."
"Kreacher's from going out or others from coming into Kreacher's mind," Kreacher wanted to know.
Regulus grinned.
"Very good. And the answer is both."
Kreacher nodded, looking pleased.
"That is efficient. Kreacher approves."
"When you wish to read some thoughts but not others, you make the wall more flexible, but don't try that until you are ready. I waited until I could always keep all outside thoughts out. At times the wall does not work consistently as it takes practice."
"How much practice," Kreacher asked.
"He does not want other thoughts in his head. Master Regulus's are fine if he isn't being too miserable but Kreacher does not want anyone else's if he can help it."
"It depends on the vampire," Regulus said.
"Dora thought my progress was impressive."
Kreacher grinned happily.
"Of course it was, Brilliant Master Regulus."
Regulus shrugged.
"Without you I couldn't take much pleasure in the accomplishment. She believed the progress was due to my heightened focus as a result of the way I study and practice magic. If this is true, your progress shall be even faster."
Kreacher looked pleased.
"Are you ready to see how your wall works out among others," Regulus asked and Kreacher nodded. As they left the manor, Regulus thought once again of Dora.
"Do you think we should write Dora to come and join us? Perhaps she could train you more effectively in some things. She is far older and stronger, after all."
"Kreacher does not need anyone to train him but Master Regulus," the elf firmly proclaimed.
"Still it would be nice for Dora to see Kreacher's progress so we should write her.
Regulus smiled.
"Very well. I shall attend to it as soon as we've had dinner. I'm sure you will want to catch Kereston up on everything when we return home, so I can do it then."
At that, Kreacher swore, a hand flying to his mouth.
"Kreacher was not able to make dinner for Kereston! He hopes she ate."
Regulus chuckled. "She is a smart girl. I'm sure she managed, and now it's time we do the same."
Kreacher and Regulus moved through the streets of London too fast for most mortal eyes to notice much about them. One young man shouted something out about how great the guys looked doing Gollum and Legolas Lord of the Rings cosplay, and Regulus smiled, deciding to use that very cover if it was ever necessary.
Of course Kreacher did not look that much like Gollum, but no costume was perfect. Eventually Regulus found a dark alley behind a night club, and they waited. Soon two drug dealers approached and Regulus stepped forward, waving them over as if he wished to make a deal.
Kreacher took one and he the other. The elf had watched Regulus feed enough times to recall how to hold the victim's gaze and give them the suggestion to remain still and calm. They fed and dropped the bodies to the ground. Kreacher burned them to ash with a casual look, then taking Regulus's hand, he apparated them home.
"How did your shield work," Regulus asked and Kreacher smiled.
"Perfectly! At least until Kreacher became annoyed at the stupid Lord of the Rings comment. He does not appreciate being compared to Muggle trash. At that, his shield slipped a bit and he was able to hear the thoughts of those around him to a high degree, but he replaced the shield quickly and it held."
Regulus smiled.
"That is impressive, Kreacher. Very good! I told you that you'd even be better than me."
Kreacher looked thoughtful.
"Kreacher is pleased."
"Lord of the Rings is a really good book series though," Regulus said and Kreacher snorted.