Vex felt something wet like a tongue, licking her face. She groaned, feeling completely weak and tired and opened her eyes to see Scratch above her. "So you decided to come along with us after all." She smiled and sat up but felt a stinging pain from her neck where Astarion bit her. Vex let a hiss, rubbing it painfully. Then she reached out and petted Scratch. The dog wagged his tail, happily.
"Oh you found a snack. I'm in the mood for breakfast." Vex heard Astarion walk up from behind her. She turned around to see him smiling down at her. Vex stood up.
"No, you can't eat him. So don't even think about it or I'll run a stack through your ribs." She glared at Astarion.
"Good morning to you too. How do you feel?" He asked her.
"I'm fine, I just feel a little woozy." Vex told him. Astarion paused for a moment before making a small smile.
"It'll pass. Just be glad that I am not a 'true' vampire. A bite from them and you might wake up as a vampire spawn, like my good self. All of a vampire's hunger, but few of their powers."
"How are you able to stand in the sun? Is it because you're not a 'true' vampire?" Vex asked.
"Oh no, I should be cinders in this light. I hadn't seen the sun for two hundred years before we crashed here. Someone-or something-wants me alive. They've changed the rule. Standing in the sun, wading through a river, wandering into homes without an invitation-they're all perfectly mundane activities now. As for my other quirks-well, we can figure those out in time." Astarion explained.
"What's causing this? The mind flayers parasite?" Vex questioned, wondering.
"That's my theory but who knows?" Astarion said. "I'm just glad you're being sensible about these revelations. I promise there will be no more midnight surprises. I was worried people might turn up with torches and pitchforks."
The two of them heard a group of footsteps approaching them and saw Wyll, Gale and Shadowheart.
"We're you guys eavesdropping on us?" Vex frowned, giving them an accusing glare.
"A vampire? Well, that explains the pallor. Give our group's nature, I don't see much harm. We're each monsters in the making, after all." Wyll spoke.
"I don't want to wake up with fangs in my neck." Shadowheart said.
"Oh, and quick word of warning, Astarion: I taste absolutely awful. Keep your distance." Gale warned Astarion.
"Will you all stop! We need him, like it or not." Vex told them.
"She's not wrong. We're bound together, no matter what comes." Astarion replied.
"You say all the right words but I'm not so sure you mean the right things. Still, I will respect the decision that is made." Gale said, staring at Astarion suspiciously.
"Maybe we should find a bell for him to wear, that'll put a stop to his midnight prowlings." Shadowheart spoke.
"Shadow, come on. Astarion had every chance to hurt us but didn't." Vex told her. Shadowheart sighed before looking back to Astarion. "Alright." Astarion smiled.
"There now. We're all friends again. Shall we go? There's a long day ahead of us." The three of them walked off to get ready. Astarion noticed that Vex was staring at him, looking like she had something to say.
"Is there something you need?" Astarion asked her.
"I'd like to know more about you."
"Why do you insist on exhuming the past?" Astarion frowned. Vex didn't answer him, still waiting. "I was a slave, a vampire spawn, kept by the Szarr family. Perhaps I still am. I was never able to resist their commands. But now I've been conveniently lost. They won't ever control me again."
"How does one become a vampire, exactly?" Vex asked him.
"Like I've said before, you need a vampire to bite you and drink your blood and you become their vampire spawn; their obedient puppet. In theory, the next step is to drink their blood. Once you've done that, you're free and a true vampire." He told her.
"So, they bite you and you bite them?"
"Yes and no. The problem is once you're a vampire spawn, they completely control you. They have to allow you to bite them. And why would they do that? Vampires are power hunger creatures. They won't lose a servant to create a competitor. Trust me. It doesn't happen." Astarion explained.
"So, about you biting me?" Vex questioned him.
"I've already said that I was sorry. What more do you want?" Astarion shrugged his shoulders before he smirked, stepping a little closer to Vex. "Unless...you're looking for another nibble?" He saw Vex's cheeks starting to grow redder when she blushed. Vex smiled, nervously, stepping away from him. Slippery little minx.
"Maybe later." She laughed, softly.
"Maybe. But there won't be any more midnight surprises, I can promise you that." He assured her. Vex smiled.
"Thanks. I wouldn't want to punch your beautiful face." Astarion blinked at her before he his smile went wider. Vex cheeks went redder, realizing what she had said.
"Beautiful? Now, I like the sound of that. Tell me more." Astarion said.
"Don't read much into it." Vex replied. "Now, I'm going to go and get ready. You better too, it's going to be a long day."
"I'm looking forward to it, especially traveling with you." Astarion replied. Vex had to admit it. Astarion had a way with words, his voice made her melt. She sighed, packing up the rest of her belongings into her pack.
"Will you stop that?" Vex heard Lae'zel speak and turned to her confused. "Stop what?"
"That silly look in your eyes and your sighing. It's getting annoying." Lae'zel snorted.
"Well, sorry I'm such a bother to you." Vex replied. "But why are you so huffy?" Lae'zel didn't answer. Vex glanced over at her to see her silently watching Astarion. Vex's eyes widen a little before she smirked. "Wait a minute...are you jealous?" The githyanki quickly snapped her head back to her. "If you think I'm jealous of that blood sucking leech, you're wrong." She hissed, causing Vex to laugh.
"Admit it. There's no denying it in your eyes. You're jealous."
"Tshk!" Lae'zel huffed in response then she noticed that Vex was still staring at her, silently.
"You have something to say, I can tell. Spit it out!" She hissed.
"Are you sure a creche is our only path to a cure?" Vex asked her. Lae'zel nodded with no hesitation.
"Entirely. I was as devoted to my studies as I was to my training. Each creche contains a zaith'isk purification device. So, I learned from the writings in the K'liir library. The library was a gift from Vlaakith herself, that we may gain total understanding."
"That kind of wisdom is very valuable." Vex told her.
"Countless of scholars roam the Astral Sea and beyond, observing the ways of our lessers, exploring planes so distant, order turns to chaos and cold fires rage. The planes are ever quaking and their people ever shifting. The githyanki possess an entirety of knowledge...yet we still collect more. Infinities upon infinities."
The group headed out while Gale and Wyll stayed back at the camp. Near a river in front of a cave, Vex noticed several feathers on the ground, animal skeletons, as well as footprints. Astarion, Shadowheart and Lae'zel noticed as well.
"Owlbear tracks. Its nest must be nearby." Vex said and started to walk closer towards the cave.
"Are you seriously going inside an owlbear den?" Shadowheart said in disbelief.
"I've never seen an owlbear up close before. I want to have a look."
"Last final words before impending death." Astarion said, sarcastically, smiling. They walked inside, seeing a few goblin corpses lying on the ground, heading deeper in.
"Ugh...the smell. Its owlbear prey no doubt." Vex gagged.
Suddenly, there was a quake on the ground followed by heavy footsteps before everyone saw it: an owlbear, it's beaked face looming out of the darkness. It let out a loud growl as a warning. Everyone froze in their spots. No one moved a muscle, trying not to provoke the creature. Vex studied the owlbear's behavior, wondering why it was acting so aggressive. Then she saw the creature's gaze shift slightly for a moment and followed its gaze and saw an owlbear cub. She was protecting her baby.
Vex backed away slowly and the creature watched her, keeping their eyes on her. It was letting them go, for now, but next time there won't be another chance. "Let's go. She won't attack if we don't bother her."
Everyone quickly left the cave and started to head back to the stone bridge.
"Do you have a sweetheart waiting for you back at Baldur's Gate, Astarion?" Shadowheart asked him.
"No, I prefer them savoury." Astarion smirked. Vex turned around to see him, staring at her and quickly glanced away.
"That's what I get for striking up a conversation." Shadowheart said.