My blood was ice. Thick frost flowing through my veins.
The creature watched me with a smirk on it's face. A predatory sense of enjoyment in it's eyes as it bared its teeth at me, lips stretching over...surprisingly white teeth.
It's skin...dark purple, a shade similar to ones found on a fresh heart, accompanied by stark red hair and eyes. It was an...eerily beautiful combination of colors to see on a body, so other worldly, and ominous, like catching a glimpse of a ghost, or hearing the cackle of a witch. Which, as I see it now, may all very well be real.
This is...that's a...vampaneze...isn't it?
There was no way I'd survive this unarmed, I had to find something to wield against him.
Seeming to mimic the acts of a snake as he held his ground, his body slowly coiling in anticipation and beady eyes analyzing every breath and slight movement I made.
My body twitched, like a leaf on a branch, and I had the idea to try and reach for my rifle...
"Ah, ah, ah..." the monster warned, "...I wouldn't do that, sweetheart. Your quaint little home is far too cozy, I'd slice you in half with my bare hands before you could even get a pop off..."
I swallowed hard, opting to close my hand in a fist instead, "Who are you...? What do you want..."
The Vampaneze's body sagged, laughing in patronizing amusement, "You can't really be that dense! Or has living out here in the forest finally completely isolated you from the real world? I'm the monster, doll. Don't you see?" he said motioning at his face emphatically, "...the purple skin? Sexy red hair? I would have thought it'd be obvious-"
"Stop rambling. I know what you are. But I also know you're not here to kill me or you would have done it already, so just tell me who you really are and what you want from me."
He slapped his hands down, head cocking to the side, "Alright, alright, not as dense as you look, I got it." he moved towards me, rounding the table to stand in front of me, "So you know what's going then, good. So let's get straight to business."
His arm shot out and I flinched, expecting him to drive it into my soft stomach.
My eyes clenched shut, but when I finally opened them I saw his purple hand being held in front of me. Expecting a shake. I squinted questioningly at him.
"The name's Peloquin." He told me, "...erm...isn't it still custom to shake hands?"
I glared at him, "I'm not touching you, you're a killer."
He chuckled happily, "Oh, you're right..." he breathed, suddenly leaning in close, his eyes dark and menacing, the hand once outstretched in greeting now tightening around my arm in a display of strength causing me to gasp, "...and if you don't play nice..." he snarled, his breath assaulting my nostrils; disgusting, thick, coagulated blood, "I'll start acting like one..."
And just like that his threat was done with and he had reverted back to his deceivingly friendly demeanor, keeping me in a state of high alert.
"And wouldn't you prefer it if I continued as my charming self? Now, shake my hand." he urged once more.
Fine, I thought. I'll play nice, Peloquin. For now, and buy as much time as I can. Where the fuck is Larten? He sticks to me like glue for two days and when I actually need him he's off somewhere doing God knows what! I swear when I get my hands on that vampire I'll never let him hear the end of it.
I reluctantly clasped my hand in his, shaking it firmly. Already feeling the beginning of a bruise on my arm.
The vampaneze flashed me his insane grin once more, "Good girl. Now I'm going to ask you a few questions. And I'm going to need you to answer them...either willingly or with some motivation, it's up to you."
He traced the outline of my arm with his finger, slowly caressing me, "So, where's the vampire?" he asked.
"What?"
He groaned, exasperated, "Oh come now, we were doing so well. Don't start playing stupid so quickly! Tell me, where is he. You said his name when you came in. You obviously know Larten personally."
Larten? What the fuck? They know him? More importantly they know he's with me!? But how could they have possibly known he was here, how did they find out about me, how did they find out where I lived?
Nothing was making sense. And I wasn't giving answers fast enough.
Peloquin lost his patience quickly. Growling loudly his fist tightened around my neck in the blink of an eye.
Gripping tightly he lifted me from the ground dragged me to the table, slamming me down on my back, my feet barely reaching the ground.
"Where is he, dammit!?" he roared, "...I know he's staying here with you, darling. He didn't leave any signs but I know he was here. And I know you two have spoken. So, make this easy, sweetheart. Tell me where the vampire is...and I won't have to maim that pretty face of yours."
I struggled to breathe. Only managing short strained gasps and broken sentences.
Peloquin eased off his grip only slightly to let me speak
"...Fuck...you..." I spat out.
Peloquin scoffed, "You...I like you. And now, I get to skip the foreplay..."
My feet left the ground once more, but before I knew it my entire body collided with it. Being thrown to the ground face first so violently had knocked the wind out of me, leaving me gasping with what little air I had left in my lungs.
I turned around but in no time at all Peloquin was on top of me, his arms shooting out to pin mine above my head.
"This is going to be fun for both of us, sweetheart. I promise you. But before the main event, I'm afraid I'm going to have to torture you...just so I can say I really gave it my all...you understand don't you?" His conversational tone was so off putting, as if the entirety of this event had been nothing but a cordial conversation.
But all these niceties and manipulative kindness was only evidence that he was insane. And very dangerous. He has no association with the acts he commits..
If only I knew some kind of mythical being that drank blood-but wasn't quite as crazy or as purple-and expressed a wish to protect me...
Before I could curse Larten's name once more, Peloquin had gripped my thigh, forcing sharp nails through the fabric of my clothing and into my soft flesh. Ripping through me like running his hand through water.
My mouth gaped wide into a silent scream before a cry of agony burst through the sudden shock and fear. I gasped, and whimpered.
"You ready to talk now, love?" Peloquin asked calmly before raking his nails a few more inches down the length of my leg.
With both my hands in the grip of his left, and his weight on top of my legs there was nothing I could do to avoid his torture. But that didn't mean I was going to be anymore complacent.
"I'm not telling you anything!" I growled, "...you'll have to kill me."
I glared into his bloodshot eyes, and he raised an eyebrow at me. Clearly enjoying his time with me.
"My, you're a tough little human aren't you?" he chuckled, "Oh well, no one can say I didn't try." he sighed, "...but I won't kill you. Not until you start begging me to..."
And with that, in a most final and violent way, he ran his razor sharp nails along my hip and down my leg, taking strips of clothing and flesh in his claws. Causing deeper and bloodier lacerations.
A fresh bout of screams were ripped from my throat as I was shredded. Blood quickly soaking me and the floor beneath me.
"Those sounds! The smell of your blood! Why you're a treasure! I can't wait to eat you alive, darling..." Peloquin rejoiced in my agony, bringing his hand to his lips and tasting my blood...
"Mmmm...so sweet..." he hummed, "...come here, beautiful...I'm starving..."
He was about to take a very literal bite out of me. Out of my throat. And I'm certain that's one place I don't want a gaping hole. But what could I do?
Peloquin licked along my neck, making me shiver in disgust...
That feeling was back again.
I was helpless, useless. I could do nothing but sit back and watch. Surrender to something I couldn't control.
I thought...things would be different now.
That I would be different now.
With Larten by my side I would...
Larten.
"Larten you fucking bastard!" I had accidentally yelled out loud, cursing him for all the world to hear.
Peloquin snorted at me, "What in the world are you-"
His question was cut short.
He was sent flying at the speed of light as something had collided with him and knocked him straight into the wall beside us. With a grunt he slowly picked himself up, gripping his head he looked for what had struck him.
A malicious smile forming on Peloquins face, "There you are, vampire. Kept us waiting long enough." for a moment more his attention turned to me "...Isn't that right, darling? Though we were really starting to enjoy each other's company..." he asked.
But I ignored him, staring up instead at Larten, who had come crashing in through that same damn window again. Might as well remove the shutters for good, they keep getting blasted through.
"Larten..." I whispered...my eyes wide and...beginning to water. Damn it all...I was so glad to see him.
Larten's stern gaze turned to me, "Are you alright? Can you move?"
"No, and hell no." I winced, attempting once to rise to my feet but quickly giving up. I was bleeding out. A lot of the skin on left side was deeply lacerated. I was going to die if I didn't get help.
Peloquin giggled from across the room, "Yes, our play date was starting to get very exciting. Too bad my mission is to get to you, or I would have taken her for myself." his joyful expression quickly turning into a grave one, thirsty for blood, "I'm going to kill you now, Larten. We don't need you poking around. We've got an understanding with these people."
Larten's body tensed, preparing himself to attack, "What are you talking about? What ever understanding you think you might have with these people it is not withstanding. And it is going to end. One way or another..."
Like a reprimanded schoolboy, Peloquin scoffed and pouted, "Oh stop your damn lecturing already!" Peloquin launched himself from the wall and over the table to grapple with Larten.
"Die!" He yelled as he attempted to wrap his hands around Larten's throat.
Barely missing, Larten managed to swiftly turn out of the way, and even found a way to strike Peloquin on the back of his skull as he went.
Off balance and dizzied, Peloquin flew head first into the ground.
Larten grabbed him by his frilly dress shirt and threw him into a cabinet filled with cups and plates, causing them to fall and shatter on the floor.
Larten took a ceramic mug to the face, it broke on impact but left a nasty cut on his eyebrow.
They were both busy grappling with each other, and attempting to impale one another with various things around my house, and even their own hands.
I took the opportunity to slowly, agonizingly inch my way toward my rifle. I had left it leaning against the doorframe. If I could just get to it, I could end this fight.
I tried to make as little noise as possible, though I doubt the fighting creatures would be able to hear me over their own grunting and fighting.
I dragged myself along the floor, leaving a streak of fresh blood in my wake before finally reaching my weapon.
I leaned my tortured body against the wall, positioning my weapon against my shoulder and pulling the lever.
With a bullet in the chamber, I saw Larten had lost the upper hand. Peloquin was above him, pinning Larten's back against the table. Much like the position I was in, but this time, Peloquin had a large kitchen knife in his hand.
Reacting quickly, I pulled the trigger. A shot firing into Peloquin's right shoulder, causing him to instantly drop the knife.
I fired again, this time firing a round into stomach. He screamed in pain, glaring at me.
"Oh, my dear...you're going to pay for that..." he threatened. Grasping his shoulder he backed away from Larten, and with whatever strength Peloquin had left in his body he managed to dodge an incoming sucker punch from Larten. Fighting through the pain Peloquin kicked the vampire in the back, forcing him to brace for an impact against the wall
Peloquin continued to inch toward the open window in the kitchen space-the same he must have used to enter-and possibly on purpose, coughed blood onto my floor.
Throwing one long leg over the window frame he turned to me, "We'll meet again, girly. And preferably without your friend over there."
Grinning a bloodied smile at the vampire, Larten growled and charged the psychopath, and with the giddiness of a naughty schoolboy he jumped the rest of the way into night, running and bleeding all the way back to whoever sent him here.
Larten stood at the window, staring out into the forest, seemingly unsure of whether he wanted to give chase or not.
I let my rifle fall from my hands. I small whine escaping my lips and I clutched my ravaged leg.
To my relief, Larten turned and moved away from the open window, and moved quickly to my position.
"Are you alright?" He asked, and uncharacteristic look of concern on his face as he surveyed my wounds.
"How could you let him get the drop on you like that? He almost killed you." I argued, frustrated with the chaos, frustrated with him.
"I was a little distracted by your childish complaining." he shot back, his lips pursing.
I relented. Fine, now wasn't the time to poke at him. I'll try not to bleed out first, and once I'm certain I'll live, then I'll take out all my aggression on him.
"Your adrenaline is going to wear off soon. And all of the pain is going to hit you. I need to get you on the bed so I can take a look." Larten commanded, taking on the tone of a seasoned medic.
'It's going to get worse than this?' I thought.
"Yeah, alright. Fine." I let him slip his arm under mine and lift me, slowly walking me to my bed. Groaning and whimpering I kept staring at the open window...afraid that at any moment Peloquin might jump back through it and finish the job.
Finally depositing me on my bed, I hissed at the feeling of the pain on my left side deepening. Like a poisonous vine it was spreading along my entire body, it's prickling thorns rooting themselves in my flesh as it went.
Larten left my side to go looking for supplies he needed to cure me, rushing around my home grabbing things from shelves and cupboards, occasionally asking me where something might be found. I do suppose going to the doctor in town should be out of the question. I can't walk there myself, and a wound like this might be hard to explain. It could cause a panic. Not to mention even if Larten was willing to take me, being seen would be a big risk for him.
He gathered the supplies he had collected on the table top; cloth, hot water, asking for needles and threads, and moonshine...
"Drink this." Larten handed me the bottle of moonshine and I took more than one greedy swig, quickly and effectively setting my throat on fire. A warm sensation settling in my belly.
"What is the alcohol percentage in this?" He asked.
I hacked as I swallowed the last of the burning liquid I had in my mouth, "Pretty fucking high." I forced out, my voice strained.
"It will have to do."
No warning, maybe it was better that way, or I never would have let him do it.
He poured out a generous quantity of moonshine onto every segment of open flesh.
Not a sound left my mouth, being rendered silent once again by a sucker punch of agony, an invisible scream filled the room. My body went absolutely rigid, my muscles tensing and freezing in the grasp of the burning liquid. I could only manage forced gasps, as nothing but my lungs remembered that I needed to breathe.
When Larten tossed the bottle, sound returned and my body was no longer paralyzed by pain.
I finally cursed at the top of my lungs and groaned as I moved, as if I could escape the cause of my hurt. I was trying to writhe and wriggle my way out of Larten's grasp but he held tight.
Pinning me by shoulders, his face inches from mine, he spoke with sincerity, "I am sorry, shush, shush now, I had to attempt to disinfect the wounds, I wish I could have used something more sophisticated but-"
"That was perfectly good moonshine..." I wheezed.
Larten's brows twitched, "You- what?"
"And now it's all gone..." I cried, "...that shit takes forever to make...oh god...ow..." I squirmed, gripping at my heart.
Larten sighed, and shifted his body weight off of me, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"I promise to get you more, but first I must close these, will you stop moving long enough to let me?"
I swallowed, and nodded.
Sitting up slowly, my head spinning from my gulps of moonshine and mind reeling from the intense pain. It was a horrible combination that ended up producing one hellish whirlwind of dizziness and confusion all topped with a nice drizzle of burning white hot pain. Though the alcohol had taken it to a new extreme, it felt as though it was beginning to fall into a more bearable buzzing sensation.
I watched Larten gather the needle and aptly pull a thread through it's eye.
"How bad is it?" I asked, as I shuffled my position on the bed, wincing as I tugged at a bear of a wound that was just beginning to sleep.
"It looks worse than it is. He knew what he was doing, the lacerations are not deep, but they are messy and will scar. Will you be able to handle the stitching? I suppose I could have offered to knock you out but..."
My eyes widened remembering Larten's magical knock out breath, err...yeah. No thanks...
"No, nope. It's definitely for the best you didn't do that, let's just get this over with while I'm still drunk."
"Very well." Larten replied. Settling into a steady pattern of breathing and concentrating on beginning the first stitch.
The needle entered high above my left thigh, about an inch below my hip bone. The last tendrils of cloth that stood in the way had been snipped away. Admittedly I was left slightly more bare on my left side than I would have preferred, given the positioning of the wound that Peloquin had inflicted on me but at this point with Larten stabbing a needle through me, I couldn't care less.
Hissing at the initial feeling of the needle weaving in and out of me, eventually I was able to tune out the piercing pain by becoming accustomed to it. And probably also thanks to the upward slope of drunkenness I was still currently on. My fierce gulps of moonshine still flowing steadily through my blood.
And thank god for that, seeing as how the rest of the bottle is now lying fragmented on the floor. Asking for another sip would be simply to make Larten laugh at this point.
We sat in silence for a while. Well mostly in silence, every now and then I would hiss or whimper at being stitched. I was beginning to annoy myself.
I stared at Larten and his furrowed brows, when suddenly a dribble of red blood ran down around his eye. Confused, I reached out and wiped the red drop away, causing the vampire to flinch at my touch.
"You're hurt..." I said.
His eyes flicked to mine for the briefest of moments before they returned to concentrate on their current task. Steely stare back on his face.
"Yes, Peloquin got lucky. Hit me with a mug. It shattered on impact, unfortunately."
I chuckled lightly, "You'll just have to buy me a new one..."
I swallowed as my mind went over the events that transpired only a few hours ago...the fear I felt when I thought I was going to die. The helplessness I felt in the presence of a vampaneze. How sure I was that I could absolutely nothing against him, "...where were you...?" I asked.
He didn't answer. He didn't even raise his head to look at me.
"Hey, Larten..." I spoke up, a sterner tone in my voice, "...where the hell did you go?"
I watched the orange crop of hair in front of me and I heard him take a deep breath. Eventually lifting his scarred face to look me in the eyes.
"I...am sorry. I was lured from my position beside the house. When I caught up to the source of the noise that had distracted me...it was a vampaneze. I had fallen for a ruse and was separated from you. By the time he had made it clear to me that you were in danger...well- I was almost too late..." His voice trailed off and his gaze fell, "...It was stupid, and blind of me. I was just so desperate to find something I-"
I took hold of his cloaked shoulder and gave him a gentle shake, "Alright, alright, I get it. It wasn't you fault. Anyway, you arrived just in time. You cut it a little close, true, but you still saved my life..." I took hold of both his shoulders and gave him a disgustingly sincere, "...thank you."
Larten's eyes locked with my own for too long a time, he was searching for something more to say but...he was at a loss. His amber eyes faltered. Deciding to instead clear his throat, dipping his head to bite off the end of the thread and tie it off.
Lifting my leg slightly despite my protests to wrap a bandage around it.
"You know..." I began, "...I was talking with that little girl and you know what she called you?"
Moving to clean up the supplies and set them on the table he replied, "Oh, this is going to be good."
"She called you a handsome prince. The Red Cloaked Prince, that's what she nicknamed you." I said, grinning wider despite trying to hide my smile.
Larten scoffed, dipping his hands into the bowl of hot water he had gathered, "Clearly the product of a child's overactive imagination."
"Hey don't count yourself out so easily, I think you're handsome enough, rather princely in the way you speak. Yeah...it works." I mused, tilting my head left and right, scrutinizing the pale vampire.
He squinted at me..."I believe you drank too much of that liquor. You should be getting some rest now."
I groaned, "I swear that's the only advice you ever give me."
Larten smiled bitterly as he turned back to me, walking away from the table and drying his hands on a cloth he dragged a chair over to sit before me.
"Listen..." He began, "...I think...you should go stay somewhere else...just- for a short period of time."
I gave an incredulous chuckle, "Why- why would I want to do that? Where would I even go?"
"It is not safe here. Your home has been compromised, I have been compromised. Peloquin may not return tonight, or even tomorrow but he will come back. He knows, and it is more than likely that others will know where you are now." Larten held my gaze with the cold look of a general. These were my orders and I was meant to follow, "...you will stay with your friend, Amos. You cannot stay here. For I will be damned if you are put under any more danger because of my mistake."
"Well it's not up to you..." I sneered, forcing myself up on two legs, I had thought I could angrily move out of his line of sight but...
Quickly finding myself stumbling to the ground Larten had to react quickly to catch me. Pushing me back down on the bed with one arm. "Don't touch me." I threatened...foolishly going to move once more. Larten passively held his arm in front of me but I violently shoved him away.
Pushed into using force to make me listen, Larten used his weight against me, pinning me back down on the bed, "Can you listen for one moment? Do you not understand!? It does not matter what I want or what you want! What happened here tonight was no coincidence...we are both in danger."
Struggling against his grasp was futile, but kicked and bucked as I could, "I don't care, I made a promise, you made a promise! I won't give up, and I'm not letting you get away from me so easily. If I do, I might as well be killing these people myself!"
Larten tightened his grasp at my arms, "You will not be helping anyone if you are dead! Staying out here all alone with the vampire in question under your floorboards after you have already been discovered is basically asking to be finished off! How can you be so stubborn!?"
My body sagged, giving up the fight against gravity and immense strength of the man above me.
"I just know...that if I don't try and do something with the opportunity I've been given...I might be no better than the monsters themselves..."
"That is not true, you have already done more than I ever could have hoped to ask of you. But now I must ask you to do this for me. You are not safe here, and if you stay you will die. This is not giving up, think of it as...relocation of assets." Larten's eyes were pleading a faint reassuring smile playing on his lips...and I felt my heart pounding...
"I was so fucking terrified..." I choked out, eyes beginning to water...
Larten's face softened, a slight tinge of guilt glinting in his eyes, "I know...I am so sorry..." his grip faltered and I slipped my hands free, curling them instinctively around his neck pulling him down into a hug. Gripping him as if my life were still on the line.
At first he gasped and moved to pull my arms away, but he quickly realized that my soft twitches signified that I was letting myself cry freely. And instead he didn't move, he simply lay there, allowing me to take comfort from him as I needed.
His hands slowly and awkwardly pet my head and tapped my shoulders...his head turned, and his voice was so close to me, his breath tickled my ear as he spoke.
"Stay here for tonight..." he whispered, "...and perhaps for another day or two to recover...but after that, you must leave. Agreed?"
After a few pitiful sniffles, I nod my head, "Agreed, but I swear to god if you disappear on me I will go hunting Vampaneze on my own. You are stuck with me."
Larten scoffed, and I finally let him go long enough for him to look at my face, "So unbelievably stubborn. Fine, I will come to you on the night you move. We will discuss our next move then. Until then, clear it from your mind."
I don't think he even realised it, but he was giving me a look I couldn't decipher. It could have been admiration, but god knows why.
He was still on top of me, and I was enjoying the warmth his body was giving me, and the warmth of the moonshine that was still sitting in my belly.
His slender fingers caressed my cheek, thumb wiping away streaks of tears. It was a simple action, but I found myself seeking more attention from his cold hands, my head following his movements.
I should go to sleep now. I should really go to sleep now.
I reached up with a free hand and touched his chest, tugging at his crimson dress shirt in an attempt to pull him closer... another miniscule action, but one that set Larten's cold blood on fire.
He suddenly cleared his throat, and gently curled his fingers around mine, pulling my hand away.
"I...I will let you sleep that drink off now. We will speak tomorrow night." He spoke softly.
Yeah, good idea.
He stood up, letting me turn into a more comfortable position on my bed.
"Larten..."
His ears perked up, "Yes...?"
"Thank you." I said, a hazy look of appreciation in my hooded eyes.
He nodded, said "Of course." but I could tell that the guilt would not leave him. I knew that feeling, but didn't know how I could help him. If I ever figure out how to make it better, I will.
Notes: Yum. Unrequited sexual tension, here we go I can really flex my fingers now. Hey, it was scary, blood was pumping, she was drunk, can you blame them?