Astrid sat on a tree branch, swinging her feet as she watched the two vampires play with their food. They had loud annoying laughs that were obnoxious and meant to show how strong and unbothered they were by the girl sobbing with pain. She was laying on the ground, grabbing her broken leg, and begging for mercy. Her face was covered with her own blood. She wondered when they would put the poor girl out of her misery.
"How long have they been at it?" The branch swayed as Major joined her, holding himself steady by the tree trunk. His arm brushed her shoulders and she looked up at him, pleased to see how close his face was.
"Under an hour. They should be ending her soon." Astrid blinked when the rugged man yanked her head off, sending blood flying over the alleyway.
Major tutted, "Messy."
They watched as Benito's men tore into her body and drank her blood, joyously licking it off of her corpse. It was sick and something that Astrid would never partake in. She was more interested in a clean kill. Astrid and Major watched intently, waiting for their moment to attack. Finally, after two months of patrolling, they had found Benito's coven. It had been draining nights full of Maria screaming and tearing apart whoever was close enough. It would all come to an end tonight.
Major moved first, leaping off the branch and landing at the entry of the alleyway. Astrid blurred past him and blocked their exit, standing wide legged and smirking when they turned in shock. This was the best part about the wars, something that she could never deny. She could be just as cruel to these men as Maria had been to her.
"Look what we have here, Major," She taunted, licking her lips. "I smell Benito all over them."
They gasped and looked back at him. She saw him from their perspective, tall and brooding. He towered over their small statures with a devilish grin on his face not at all bothered by the blood or their hissing. His scars sparkled with their eyesight, showing just how dangerous he was. She was far enough that she couldn't feel the fear he was putting off but they seemed to be getting the full effects. They visibly shook.
They glanced back at Astrid, no doubt wondering if they could take her. She gave them a challenging look, wanting them to test her.
"All we want to know is where your camp is at, boys." Major said, directing their attention onto him.
"Like we'd ever tell you shit!" One spat at Major's feet.
"I doubt that." Astrid snickered.
Major nodded to the one on the left and within seconds Astrid had him on his knees. He struggled and tried to release her hold but there was nothing he could do with Major's fear striking him down. She twisted his neck and easily pulled it off, dropping it beside his corpse. His comrade moaned.
"Where's your camp?" Major asked.
The man shook his head, biting his lips as his body shivered. He fell to his knees whimpering. Astrid walked around him, waiting for the truth to spill out. Sometimes all they needed was for Major to scare the shits out of them but once in a while they get a strong willed vampire who wouldn't give away their camp. Astrid gave them credit for their loyalty.
"Kill me." He stuttered out.
Astrid sighed, "That wouldn't do."
Major stepped forward and yanked him by the shirt. The man whimpered but followed along, incapacitated from the fear. They walked in silence towards the camp and didn't bother to cover their prisoner's eyes. He wouldn't be leaving. They entered the yard of the farm and the newborns parted as they took him to the barn. Astrid grabbed the chains that were durable enough to hold a vampire and began to wrap him like a mummy. She made sure to leave his fingers and feet exposed, knowing that whoever would torture him would firstly go for them. Once Major was satisfied with his bondage he opened the door of the barn and Astrid stepped out.
"Is that Benito's man I smell?" Peter asked, appearing before her. He walked backwards as she stalked towards the house. Maria was locked in her room.
"It is. Sad you weren't part of it?" She taunted.
"Of course! Where's my invite? Seems like it's just you and Major running around these days." Peter pouted, stopping at the stairs and watching as she walked towards the door. She looked over her shoulder at him, frowning.
Peter sighed and nodded in understanding. He looked back to see Charlotte standing with the eight, all of their eyes on them. She frowned when Astrid made eye contact with her and turned her back to them, beginning a conversation with Elizabeth. They stood out like a sore thumb in the mass of newborns; they were ostracized from the others for their difference in attitude. They weren't as blood thirsty as the rest and had more etiquette. They were considered weak and less devoted to the cause.
Astrid opened the door and walked in, closing it behind her. The stairs creaked as she entered the upstairs, passing the bathroom to reach Maria's door. She politely knocked although it was pointless. Maria had probably heard her enter.
"Come in, darling Astrid."
She pushed the door open and bowed to the woman. She was standing at the window, staring at the newborns as they trained. Maria turned to gaze at her.
"We have one of Benito's men. He's in the barn."
Maria smiled and looked back at the window, "Very well. Let my Jasper do as he pleases. In no time we will have Benito at my mercy."
Astrid took that as a dismissal and quickly exited. She blurred down the stairs but this time, just as she was prepared to walk out the front door, she stopped and looked into the sitting room. She took a deep breath and took a timid step towards the dark room. The furniture was black with a white carpet in the center of it. A fireplace took an entire wall with a large mirror over it. She gazed at herself, red eyed and wild hair, and thought of the last time she had set foot in the room. She had been changed here, had watched her family massacred in front of her. Lucy had loved to give a show before changing someone.
A hand rested on her shoulder. Snarling, Astrid grabbed it and yanked them forward. They slammed into the wall and Astrid grabbed their neck. She blinked when she realized it was Major.
"Sorry." She muttered, stepping back.
He stared at her, "What were you thinking about? You didn't hear me come in."
"The night I was changed. Lucy had stopped our carriage and asked for a ride home. My father was a polite man and never let a woman go unattended," She stared at the carpet. "They brought my father, mother, and brother in with me. For some reason Maria picked me to change."
Major said nothing. She didn't expect him to, what would there be to say? She gave him a small smile and he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, appreciating the touch. She leaned further into him, more comfortable with him than she had ever been. Her exclusion from Charlotte and Peter had led her straight to Major, seeking any form of communication she could. He was good comfort, strangely enough. They didn't need to speak since he could feel her constantly but that was the good part. She could sit in stoic anger and he would merely cuff her on the shoulder, encouraging a fight to get her out of her funk.
There was a crunch as someone was killed in the yard. She sighed and stepped back, looking at the door. Her favorite part in the last two months had been the trips outside of the farm, getting away from Maria's looming presence and the grudges that the eight held. Peter had only stuck to Charlotte's side so that he would still be fucked but Astrid knew that he didn't blame her for killing Harriet and Charles. He would've done the same thing. It was their lives over anyone else's.
"The children are fighting." She muttered.
Major smirked, "Let them kill each other. Not our problem, doll."
Astrid gave him a look that clearly stated it was their problem. Maria had been a swirling mess. One second she was angry and tearing apart newborns, the next she would lock herself in her room for days on end. Her rein of terror was spiraling out of control and Major was left to, once again, take over the army. When Nettie and Lucy had been alive they would delegate the problems and separate into different camps to keep the large numbers from attacking each other. Now they were all confined to the farm, forty newborns bipolar attitudes on top of each other. It was a disaster.
Astrid stepped away from him and opened the front door, her eyes landing on four newborns beginning a brawl. She snarled and yanked the shit stirrer from the middle, slamming her on the ground. It cracked beneath her body and the yard fell silent, eyes on Astrid.
"When will you learn to stop fighting with each other?" Major asked, standing on the patio. Their eyes turned to him. "If you haven't already smelled the shit we have one of Benito's men," The yard roared with victory. "Once he breaks - which he will - we will strike on Benito and have the fight you've been waiting for."
Astrid glowered at the newborns. If they didn't kill themselves first, that is.
Major dismissed the crowd and headed towards the barn, Astrid on his heels. She closed the doors behind them and turned in time to see Benito's man shaking his head as Major neared him.
"You ain't getting shit from me, ya' fucker!" He snarled.
Major walked in circles around him, his gaze focused on the way he twitched at his proximity. Astrid stayed back, watching Major in his element. He changed roles like a switch, his eyes red and then black in a flash with an alternate personality. She wouldn't be shocked if Major had created another personality to deal with the horrendous acts he committed over the years. No sane mind could do what he did. That's why he tortured and Astrid observed in case he went too far. Usually Peter would participate but he had been distracted by Charlotte.
"What's your name?" Major asked, stopping in front of the chained vampire.
He snarled, "None of your business."
"Now, now. How can we be friends if I don't know your name?" Major cocked his head to the side. She felt the room's tension dissipate and replace with comfort and support. She felt her muscles relax at the feeling, falling for his gift.
The vampire gave a kind smile, his eyes glazed, "Robert. My name's Robert."
"Robert. Strong name. Tell me, Robert, how is life with Benito?"
"It's great. He lets me do whatever, kill whoever, fuck whoever." Robert's head swayed back and forth, his fingers twitching from their binds.
"How do you feel about Benito?"
Robert's eyes fluttered, "He's tough. He doesn't let accidents slide. I respect him."
Astrid sighed. This would need physical action. His feelings were too strong for Major to overcome.
Major cocked his head to the side before looking back at Astrid. She gave a nod and he turned back around, grabbing his hand and one by one peeling off Robert's fingernails. Major amplified his pain and Robert screamed bloody murder, tossing his head back and belting. He continued until all of his nails were removed and then began on taking his fingers, but only by the first knuckle. Only then did Major stop and take a step back, taking in his work. Robert was panting from pain, his head bowed.
"Where's your camp?" Major asked.
Robert shook his head.
Major stepped back and turned to Astrid, nodding for her to leave. She opened the doors and he followed behind her, closing it. Astrid observed the yard before turning to glance at him. She knew that they would wait for Robert to be starved before continuing. Major was patient. It was Maria that she worried about. She may be in a good mood tonight but there was no telling how she would be after a day.
"Let's go eat, doll." Major murmured, gazing at the bonfire. She followed his eyes to see Peter crouched next to a giggling Charlotte, playing with her hair as he whispered in her ear.
"Should we invite him? He's been feeling left out." She suggested. Peter may be a huge annoyance but she sort of missed his companionship. There's nothing like a sarcastic comment to brighten her day.
Major snorted, "Left out? He's so far up her pussy he shouldn't be feeling anything."
She rolled her eyes but none the less agreed. Major turned, waiting for her to follow. She stayed a moment longer, watching as Maggie shoved Peter's shoulder at a joke; Roosevelt held Elizabeth in a headlock; Harry laid on his back and allowed Matilda to play with his hair. She missed them and wished things had changed. She felt a gentle caress on the back of her hand and looked back. Major gestured for her to come and she did.