XI
So Dreyon moved in with her. Serena was overjoyed. Working together, they fashioned the living room into a bedroom, adding a sofa-bed and a decently-sized trunk for Dreyon's belongings. Once the heavy lifting was complete, they all settled around the dining table while Ellis dished out cocktails – a chocolate margarita for Serena, a Black Velvet for Dreyon, and a Pink Elephant for herself. Ellis was used to mixing blood into chocolate margaritas, and the Black Velvet didn't have any drastic changes with the blood added in, but Ellis did hesitate when she held the blood bag over her Pink Elephant. The delicate color seemed so innocent and sweet. In the end, she drank both drinks separately.
They spent the entire night like that, sipping at their food, chatting, laughing. Dreyon did hesitate when he caught scent of the packaged blood, but "at least the alcohol sort of covers it up". It wasn't until nearly midnight when they finally came to the topic of the tattoo.
Every clan had one. When Ellis first joined the Shadowlocks, they had taken her to Magnon, a warlock, for the tattoo, and she got it. It was really more or less there to show clan loyalty. If someone were to leave a clan, they just got the tattoo removed, and it would be very painful, but at least… well… they're free.
"We can get it removed tomorrow," Serena suggested.
"Sure," Dreyon said, shrugging.
Ellis nodded. Truthfully, she had never really seen someone get their tattoo removed before, but she did know where Magnon lived, and it took one quick ride downtown, and they're there. No biggie, really.
"All right," Serena cleared up the glasses, dropping them off in the sink. "We should get to bed right now. Good night?"
"Good night," Ellis agreed.
Serena left the apartment, heading back to her own. Wordlessly, Dreyon sat on the couch. Ellis disappeared into her room, changing into a nightdress, and peered out. "Hey, if you need anything, just yell, all right?"
Dreyon nodded. He looked very sad. Maybe he needed some time alone, to mull over the events of the day, Ellis had no idea. She went back to bed, turned off the lights, and allowed the house to plunge into darkness.
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The next morning, they ate a quick breakfast, taking the blood fresh out of the bag before leaving. Dreyon didn't complain, but watching him take every gulp was painful. Ellis wanted to sympathize, but if he was to join the Shadowlocks, he'd better get used to it fast.
They took the subway there, getting swept up among the people of the rush hour. They were still jostled and pushed around, but nobody tried to steal from them, and the people around them did give them a bit of space, eyes following them. Ellis ignored the stares. One vampire was enough to make people slow down, not to mention three. They must have looked like a group of low-key models taking a stroll.
The trip there was silent. Soon, they arrived at the opposite end of the city, making their way to a small street packed with cafes and souvenir kiosks. Most of the shops weren't opened yet, apart from a sleepy woman manning a coffee stand.
Ellis led the way deeper into the street, stopping at a small herb shop. It was immaculately clean, the windowsills and displays freshly polished. Ellis knocked.
After a moment, the door opened, revealing a young boy, about their age, very tall and skinny, with white-blond hair and curious silvery eyes.
"Hello," he said.
Ellis smiled. "Hey. We're here to get a Shadowlock tattoo. Is Magnon here?"
The boy nodded. "Come in. I'm Stone, Magnon's apprentice."
They entered the shop. The scent of fragrant herbs, medicine, and tea was everywhere, and the interior was warm and cozy. A small fire burned in the hearth, and there was a small couch and a coffee table near the center of the room. Tables and shelves filled with neatly arranged packages surrounded them.
Stone disappeared into the back room, reappearing with a tray of tea and chocolate chip scones.
"I'll get Magnon now," Stone said. "He's outside on his morning walk."
"Thanks," Serena said.
"No problem." Stone blushed, grabbed a hat and scarf, and vanished out the door. Chuckling, Ellis picked up a scone and took a bite. Her eyes widened in surprise. She thought she'd be choking down dry human scones, made of nothing but sugar and flour, but this one had blood in it, and in addition to that blood, it was literally the best scone she had ever tasted.
Right then, the door opened again, this time a tall, thin man with pale skin, thinning grey hair, and a thin, almost nonexistent moustache. Everything about him was very thin, and he would have been very frail and delicate if it weren't for the fact that you could clearly see the wiry muscle on his forearms, courtesy of his rolled-up sleeves, crossed with battered white scars.
"Magnon?" Ellis said.
Magnon frowned at them. Then, he snapped his fingers triumphantly. "Ellis Skye, I did your tattoo in 1806, and you came to visit me seven more times with your friend, Serena Shale, who had her tattoo done in 1889. And…" his grin faded slightly. "Dreyon Morgen, I did yours in 1831… What are you doing back here?"
"Nice to meet you too," Dreyon replied stiffly. With one smooth move, he pulled off his shirt and turned around. On his shoulder blade was a star, the symbol of the Nightwalkers. "Get it off."
Magnon stared at it. "And I suppose you'll want another one? A Shadowlock one, perhaps?"
"Yes."
The warlock sighed. "All right. You know I really hate doing this."
"Get it over with."
"So rude." Magnon turned to Stone, who was arranging the coats. "Please get me my kit."
"Right away!" Stone chirped, scampering back in ten seconds with a gigantic leather box. Magnon opened it up, revealing bottles of pale chemicals, a few battered old books, and something that looked like a tree branch filed into a sharp tip and coated in gold. Ellis and Serena moved back, getting off of the couch to give some room.
"This is going to hurt," Magnon warned. Dreyon shrugged, his shoulders flexing.
Magnon opened a jar of milky-colored liquid and a small brush. He dipped the brush in, and raised it. Immediately, the brush started to smoke, not from heat but from the frost that was quickly coating the bristles, and the temperature in the room dropped.
Magnon touched the brush to Dreyon's shoulder, and Dreyon screamed.
It was the most horrible sound Ellis had ever heard in her entire life. His spine arched in pain as he doubled over, his hands clawing at his back, his skin flushed, and only a fraction of the tattoo had been removed.
"Dreyon!" Ellis cried, lurching forward.
"Stay back," Magnon was pale, but firm. Gently, he helped Dreyon up. "This is going to hurt a lot more, but it would be really helpful if you didn't move. We can get it done faster."
Dreyon nodded tightly.
Magnon raised the brush again, sighing. "I didn't have to remove tattoos for at least a century."
It went on for another five minutes, but it seemed like five years. With each stroke, Ellis could see Dreyon's face contort, but he didn't make a sound, and he didn't move at all. Stone was shivering in a corner; Serena looked slightly green. Ellis's stomach was tearing itself to shreds.
Finally, it was done. Stone rushed forward with a piece of cool white cloth smelling of lilacs. Magnon placed it firmly on Dreyon's shoulder, where there was a faint sizzling sound. Dreyon sighed in relief, his entire body relaxing as the painkillers and whatnot did its job.
"Better?" Magnon asked.
"Much better," Dreyon croaked.
Magnon held the cloth on for a bit longer, before returning it to Stone. The patch of skin was now back to normal, toned and healthy, as if nothing had ever been there before.
"Now," Magnon said. "It's time for your Shadowlock tattoo. It's going to be painless compared to just now. Where would you like it?"
"Around my throat," Dreyon answered effortlessly. "I thought about it last night."
Magnon smiled. "All right."
Dreyon placed his shirt back on, and tilted his head back. Magnon picked up the branch, placing the golden tip against Dreyon's throat, and began to draw. Runes flowed from the tip, thick and black, forming Dreyon's story. Energy glowed around them as the magic controlled Magnon's actions, drawing from Dreyon's memories and emotions, and after another five minutes, it was over again.
Stone rushed out, carrying a mirror. Dreyon stared at his reflection.
"You look good," Ellis said.
"It looks like a noose," Dreyon said stiffly.
"Nah, it looks good," Magnon said, laughing as he packed his kit.
"Yes, it looks good," Dreyon agreed, laughing as well. "Thank you."
Magnon waved a hand easily. "No problem. Have a good day, you guys."
"You too!" Ellis said. "Bye guys!"
"Bye!" Stone called.
They left the shop, and something told Ellis that today was going to be a good day.