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Astrid had heard of the monster. Every vampire had one, she assumed, and it only appeared when they were in the heat of the moment. Astrid didn't remember what she did when her monster had taken control, all she could recall was the before - a newborn tearing her leg and another twisting her arm behind her back to shove her face first into the ground - and the after, where they laid torn in front of her. It was a vampire's most emotional state, where they felt they had lost everything and there was nothing else they could do in their power.
The monster took over when reality was too hard, she would summarize.
The newborn held Charlotte's head by her golden locks, smiling wide and holding it high to showcase to the yard. There were welcoming cheers in response and he seemed to swell at the sound.
Astrid stood stunned beside Major, her mouth open in a silent scream. She felt fingers twine between hers, a grip to reality that kept her still. Somewhere in her head she heard Major's warning of Maria and plots that never existed. She stayed rooted in the spot, clenching Major's hand, and wanting nothing more than to take Charlotte's head from the newborn's hand and put her back together.
Roosevelt roared and lunged at the newborn. A new body appeared and shoved Roosevelt to the ground, a cackling woman prepared to fight. Roosevelt tossed her off and gave a kick to her chest, the fence breaking as she flew through it. Elizabeth bolted past Roosevelt and jumped on the back of Charlotte's attacker.
Peter appeared and flung Elizabeth off of the man, another part of the fence crumbling. His eyes had turned a soulless black, venom coating his chin, and a savage look to him that Astrid had witnessed only in battle. He yanked the newborn's arm off and grabbed Charlotte's head gently, brushing her hair from her blinking eyes, and setting her next to her twitching body.
The newborn spun on his heel, holding up his remaining arm. Peter slowly stood, his shoulders hunched and teeth clenched. He moved fast, grabbing the man by the throat and slamming him to the ground. He tore his other arm off, taking delight in the pained scream he released. He enjoyed tearing the boy apart, making sure to keep his head on so he could scream. It only took him three seconds to ruin him and that was enough time for his comrades to rush forward.
Astrid jerked in Major's grip but stayed. Three newborns approached Peter, circling him with no intent to cease. Peter grabbed the closest one and bent him over his knee, tearing him in half. She was shocked at the ferocity of his attack. The other two were deterred by his strength but didn't stop. They moved in synch, grabbing both of Peter's arms and trying to tear them off. Peter moved with them and used the momentum to throw one to the ground and toss the other one over the fence. He slammed his fist through the newborn's neck and spun to roar at the other one, beating his chest.
Major released Astrid's hand to move past her. She grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him back, "What are you doing?"
"Someone has to stop him. Maria isn't going to be happy." He replied.
"Let me take Charlotte."
Major shook his head, "His monster is in control. I can barely feel him. He'll attack if anyone goes near her."
Astrid relented and watched as Major slowly walked towards Peter. He held his hands up innocently, taking tiny steps until Peter's eyes drifted to him. He snarled in warning and crouched low. Major stopped moving, the entire camp watching with rapt focus.
"She's fine, Peter. Look, you got her." Major pointed to Charlotte's downward facing body. Her fingers waved at Peter, her mouth opening and closing as if to call him.
Peter's black eyes drifted to her body. He slowly moved towards her, keeping his eyes on Major. When he reached her, he pulled her into his lap and carefully put her head back in place. He would have to hold it still until the skin reattached. It would take a feeding before she could speak again.
Major's power settled over the crowd, bringing down the hysteria. Peter's eyes were focused on every vampire, moving quick to take in all their positions. Astrid was the closest and slowly backed away until she was at Major's side once more. A disgruntled Elizabeth hopped over the fence, wiping grass out of her hair as she skirted around the duo. Roosevelt and the girl had came to a stop at Major's influence, snarling at each other as they went separate ways. The crowd dispersed until it was the four vampires standing around a growling Peter.
"I'll go get a human." She offered, feeling useless.
Major frowned and folded his arms, scanning the yard. Elizabeth teetered at the edge of Peter's vision, glancing at the field as the other newborn gathered himself and hopped over the fence.
The farm house door slammed open and fast approaching footsteps were their only warning before Maria appear in their circle. She scowled at Peter's dark eyes and the indents in the dirt, her fingers dancing on her hips as she thought. Two newborns laid diminished on the floor, too much work to put back together, and that didn't help Maria's attitude. She bared her teeth and grabbed Peter by the neck, making him stand and release Charlotte. Her head rolled and Peter hissed, his hands wrapping around Maria's neck.
It could have ended there, Astrid thought. Peter could have ripped Maria's head off and tossed it in the fire, the monster fully in control, and she would have been free. She had seen Major easily overtake her, she could see that Peter was on the same path, and it was so tangible that Astrid wondered where she would visit first. She always wanted to see the beach in California, the one place she never made it to.
"Enough." Maria said, a tone in her voice that sent actual shivers down her skin. She felt Major shake beside her and watched as the black slowly receded from Peter's red eyes.
Peter slacked in her hold and she twisted his neck. He slumped to the floor and Astrid held back her whimper. Charlotte and Peter laid helplessly on the floor, all in the span of ten minutes, and Maria stared at them with their fate in her hands. Astrid looked at Major, would he fight? They should take this chance before she ended Astrid's closest friends.
"Take Peter to the barn and shackle him," Maria directed, turning to face them. Astrid felt the moment pass and the defeat flood her chest. "Astrid go on patrols. Let the newborns figure it out." With that, Maria flicked her hair over her shoulder and headed back to the farm house.
Major said nothing and crouched to haul Peter over his shoulder, doing as Maria instructed. Astrid waited till Major and Maria disappeared before quickly grabbing Charlotte's head and gesturing for Elizabeth to grab her body. She peeked over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching before dashing into the woods, running until she found the two rocks that Major had hidden on the day he broke his arms. She gingerly laid Charlotte's head down before grabbing her body from Elizabeth.
"Go on patrols, I will stay with her," Astrid decided, glancing at Elizabeth briefly as she readjusted Charlotte's head. "Maria will be able to follow your smell to her body and will be livid if she sees you helping. When you come back bring a human and leave them in the woods. I'll find it and bring it to her so she can feed."
Elizabeth nodded and slowly backed away, the sun beginning to dip behind the red trees, "What about Peter? What is Maria going to do to him?"
"He got involved in a newborn fight. Maria will most likely torture him before releasing him. Who knows how long." Astrid said, turning her back to Elizabeth in dismissal. She listened as she ran away before sitting on the rock beside Charlotte.
"Oh honey," She sighed, fixing Charlotte's hair. She blinked sadly in response. "It'll be okay, only a day or two before you'll be back to walking again. Poor Peter." She shook her head and closed her eyes, frustrated.
Why hadn't Major done anything? Why didn't she do anything? They're tired of this life and the only way out is to kill Maira, why didn't they just do it? Astrid opened her eyes and watched as the sun disappeared, keeping an ear out for anyone approaching. Maria would have no doubts about Astrid listening, she wasn't worried about her. Major no doubt would figure out that she had taken Charlotte's body. It was only a matter of time before he found them.
The night dragged on and Astrid could only sit and watch as Charlotte's skin began to reattach. It was a sight to behold as her snowy skin reached out in tendrils and wove into her neck. She spent the time talking about what she could remember of her human life, of her brother and the antics they got into. Of how her mother was so beautiful to her, how she dressed exactly like her, and how her father was such a rough man but was so gentle when he saw his wife.
"Talking her ear off when she can't even tell you to shut up?" Major asked, appearing out of the trees. The moonlight shimmered off his scars.
Astrid shrugged, "How's Peter?"
"Acting how Maria wants him to."
He came to a stop beside her and rested his hand on her shoulder, squeezing. She turned to gaze up at him, taking in his tough expression, the rigid posture he held. She felt his frustration cover her own and wanting to relieve it, she carefully placed her hand over his and returned the squeeze.
"I know you wanted me to end her," He said. "It wasn't the time, Astrid. I have a plan, one that needs all of us to work together. Maria isn't my only enemy, if she dies then Santiago and Benito will do anything to get me. They need to all die."
Astrid understood. She was just a soldier seen on the field. Major was a name spread to terrorize the others, seen as Maria's second in command. If she died, Santiago and Benito would see Major as the next in line - even if he wanted nothing to do with it. It wouldn't be easy for him like it would be for her.
She pulled his hand down so she could entangle their fingers and placed a kiss on the backside of it, closing her eyes and inhaling. They stayed still, listening as the leaves rustled in the wind and animals scuffled over the foliage. She wouldn't leave him, she knew, just as surely as she knew that she would fight for Peter and Charlotte. They were all she knew and wouldn't leave them in this shit hole.
"You already know what I'd say to that." She muttered, thinking of Christmas and dead children.
Major took his hand back and brushed her hair smooth before stepping back, "Don't spend all your time with Charlotte. Once you feed her - I know you have one of those newborns bringing a snack back - spend the day at camp. The others will cover for you on patrol."
Astrid nodded, "I'll go on patrol tomorrow night. One of the eight can watch Charlotte."
"Very well."
They stayed together until they heard a heartbeat at the edge of the forest. Major disappeared to get the human and Astrid moved so that Charlotte's head could rest in her lap.
"You'll be free soon, Charlotte. Don't worry." She whispered, knowing her words were true.