A/N - The basis for this fic is lore from the music videos.
Sunlight filters through the fluttering leaves. It's warm.
Heli sits under a tree in the yard of the orphanage, a large manor of grey stone. It's been his home for as long as he could remember. He watches six other boys, his best friends and roommates. They're playing a game with an old rugby ball they found in the attic.
Jino has the ball and Noa tackles him. They tumble to the ground in a fit of giggles.
"Why don't you join them?"
He looks over to see someone is sitting next to him. She smooths her long grey skirt over her legs. He can't bring himself to look at anything but her boots. He knows who she is.
"There'd be an odd number. The teams wouldn't work."
It's an excuse.
"Is that right?"
"I don't want to play."
She laughs and takes his hand. "You're always in such a hurry to grow up. You can enjoy life too!"
I'm not alive.
Thick black storm clouds roll over, blotting out the sun. Jaan drops the rugby ball as they all look up into the sky.
A flicker of orange catches Heli's eyes. It's not clouds filling the sky.
It's smoke.
Flames fill the manor's broken windows. Shattered glass rains down onto the ground below. The roof collapses in, and the ground opens and splits into deep crevices. He's falling.
He reaches out but the hand that had been holding his is gone.
There's no one as he slips into darkness.
"OH. MY. GOD."
He opens his eyes. It takes a minute, but slowly they adjust to dim light. He's lying down, his hands folded over his stomach. His limbs protest as he tries to move, aching with disuse. His elbows smack into a hard, rough surface and he realises he's lying in a wooden box. Someone is leaning over him, long shaggy hair obscuring their face as they push back the lid.
"I actually found one!" they shout. Some distance away, someone calls back.
"Are you serious? You better not be trying to scare me."
"I think it's dead."
Footsteps approach. The face that peers down at him isn't what he's expecting. It's a man with blond hair that hangs over his eyes. His shirt is at least three different colours arranged in a dizzying swirling design. Hoop earrings hang from his ears. Their eyes meet, and the man freezes.
The other one is looking at him too, with large brown eyes. He opens his mouth and screams.
"Get the stake!"
The blond one dips down. Heli can hear something clattering as he shuffles around.
"Wait-"
His throat is dry and his stomach aches. Mustering up the strength to get out of here is what he needs to do, but strength is the problem. He's so hungry he can't stand it.
The blond reemerges with a wooden spike in hand. He reaches down, placing the point on Heli's chest. Heli reaches up and grabs the man's arm. The movement sends a prickling pain down his limb. The stranger tries to jerk his arm away, but Heli hangs on with everything he has left.
"Please, don't." It's all he can muster. His voice is barely more than a strained wheeze. He's completely at their mercy. Under his fingertips he can feel the excited pulse of warm blood in the man's wrist. All he needs to do is pull it closer so he can-
Before the thought can finish a sharp pain sears through his chest. He tries to curl up, but the space is too small. There's more screaming, and this time it's him.
The blond drops the stake and both men are looking down with concerned faces.
"Hey," the blond says.
"Eugene, don't talk to it…" the other one pulls on his arm, but Eugene brushes him away.
"It's alright. He can't bite us."
Eugene reaches down and pulls Heli up by his shoulders.
Heli can barely hold up his head. He stares down at his hands and can barely register that he's looking at his own body. They're practically skeletal. Dry grey skin stretches tight over the tendons. He's wearing a heavy white jacket with an elaborate gold trim. It's stiff and grey with dust. The whole look is so anachronistic, it must be a costume.
But he can't remember why.
"You look like shit," Eugene continues, lifting Heli out of the coffin and setting him down on the floor. He's smiling, even though his friend is rapidly smacking him on the shoulder.
Heli knows this place. They're in a large, circular room. The floor and walls are dark, smooth stone. Tall stained glass windows depict the rising sun.
Or is it setting?
Eugene picks up a velvet bag and reaches inside. He pulls out a small tin and pops open the lid revealling what looks like bright red lozenges.
"What are you doing! We didn't steal those from that witch so you could-"
"Viken, stop," Eugene holds the tin up in front of Heli's face. "I'll give you these. Only because you're the most pathetic vampire I've ever seen."
He takes out one of the candies and presses it to Heli's mouth.
To Heli's surprise, he can taste blood.
He grabs the tin from Eugene who laughs.
"What are you doing?" the one called Viken hisses.
Eugene shrugs. "We stole a lot of stuff, and none of us have a use for blood candy. Were you going to eat them?"
"No, but-"
"Then shut up."
Viken crosses his arms and sits next to Eugene. They're both watching Heli as he swallows the candy. It's not much but it's better than nothing.
"Why are you here?" Heli says.
Eugene taps his chin. "Side quest," he says. "Where are the rest of the vampires?"
Heli frowns. "They're not here?"
"Nope. You're the only one and we've searched this place all night."
"You were looking for vampires at night?" Heli lets out a dry laugh. He was going to ask them what they wanted in exchange for their help, but he's pretty sure now they're just stupid.
"What's so funny?"
"If they're not here, I don't know where they are."
This was the truth. He tries to think back, but it's all a blur.
"It looks like they left you here to die," Eugene says. His smile is gone. He stares intently at Heli, as if waiting for his reaction.
As much as he hates it, that seems to be the case.
Eugene stands up, collecting the items he'd dropped in his search for the stake. Books, bottles full of coloured liquids, glass orbs and vials. He shoves them all into the velvet bag.
"How did you fit all that in there?"
Viken also stands. "Magic."
"That's not real."
"No? You're a vampire."
Point taken.
Eugene stretches. "If there are no other vampires here, then I guess there's no sense in hanging around. See ya."
They both stroll to the door at the far end of the room. Heli watches them disappear down the stairs, leaving him alone. He doesn't have enough energy to chase after them. If he doesn't get some real blood soon, he might just crumble into dust.
He's never, in his entire existence, been alone. Not really. A sinking feeling grows in his chest.
He's also aware of the brightening sky. Soft morning light is starting to stream in the coloured windows as the sun rises.
"Don't leave me here." He says it out loud, to no one.
"Why not?"
Heli jumps. Eugene is back in the doorway. His steps are nearly silent as he comes back into the room. Heli doesn't have an answer so he stares at the ground.
"Actually. I saved your life. I think you owe me something for that."
"Don't leave me here," Heli mumbles again.
Eugene kneels down so they're face to face. "Tell me your name."
"Heli."
"Okay, Heli. I'll take you with me, if you want."
"Yes."
Eugene grabs him under the arms and pulls him to his feet. Heli sways, but manages to take one slow step after another. By the time he reaches the last handful of steps, Eugene and Viken are waiting, arms crossed at the bottom of the stairs.
"It's going to be tomorrow by the time he gets anywhere. Just stake him." Viken whines.
Eugene ignores him. "Just going to have to carry him I guess."
"It's not some item you can just pick up!"
Despite Viken's protests, Heli ends up carried through the castle on Eugene's back. As they pass he catches glimpses of the rooms through open doors, empty, dusty and decrepit. No one has been here in a long time.
The castle is surrounded by thick forest, through which there is only a narrow path. They continue into the trees. The air is cool. Orange and red leaves blanket the forest path. It's dark enough in the shade of the trees, but Heli still can feel the small beams of light pricking the exposed skin of his face and neck. Before too long, they emerge onto a road.
Heli swears the forest was larger.
On the side of the road sits a long tan and white vehicle. Viken slides open a door on the side. Eugene drops Heli inside and climbs into the driver's seat. There is a long back seat under windows that go almost all the way to the back. Viken slams the door and climbs into the passenger front seat, next to Eugene.
Heli looks between them.
"Don't you have to start the engine?"
"Yes?" Eugene pulls a key from his pocket. With a turn of the key, the engine comes to life and they're pulling back onto the road.
Heli stares. Viken turns and is looking back at him.
"Aren't you going to burn up?" He points to the windows.
Heli nods. Out of the cover of the trees, he's in trouble as the sun rises higher in the sky.
"There's a blanket you can cover yourself with behind you. Over the seat." Eugene offers.
Viken gestures to Heli's right.
"Thanks…"
Heli reaches back and finds the blanket. He throws it over his head, not a moment too soon. As the van turns they're in full view of the sun.
He curls up on the seat, eyes closed and trying to keep his legs covered as best he can. He's not going to be able to heal in his current state of starvation.
"I don't think this is a good idea," he hears Viken say.
"I can think of a few good reasons why it is. You really think we should have killed him? I didn't see you getting the stake"
"I can think of someone who might just kill you when he sees this." Their voices fade.
When Heli opens his eyes, it's dark.
"Wow, you really give new meaning to the phrase sleep like the dead."
Heli pulls the blanket off his head. Eugene stands in the open van door.
"It's nighttime." Heli says.
"Yeah, and it's late. We tried to wake you earlier but you really were just like a corpse."
Heli's not sure why that is a surprise.
He tumbles out of the van. They're parked in front of a small cottage. The sound of water flowing is nearby. Golden light emanates from the windows. Eugene supports Heli by the arm and he opens the front door and steps inside. Heli pauses.
"Come on, you can enter."
He follows Eugene inside. It's cosy.
There's a small kitchen with herbs hanging over the window. Their living room has a cushy couch and shaggy orange carpet. Everything is warm and earthy.
He recognises Viken. He's sitting in a round chair opposite the couch, which Eugene guides him to. There are two other men too, all staring, wide-eyed, mouths open.
"Oh my," one of them says.
"I thought you two were going to slay the vampires, not-"
"Avys," Eugene interrupts.
Heli sinks into the couch. It's even softer than it looks.
They sit in silence, staring at each other. Heli hears the door open and shut again, and another one comes in.
"Um, Eugene? The dead body that was in the van is gone." The newcomer rounds the corner and stops cold. "Ah, there it is."
"Taho, don't be rude. I think that's rude. Is he being rude?" One of them says.
"What was I supposed to think when Viken showed me this half-rotten corpse in the backseat?"
"Soule is right, that is rude."
"You're one to talk, Avys! Talking about slaying vampires in front of him."
"Why isn't he slain though?" Taho continues.
With a groan Eugene stands. "Guys! Stop. I have reasons, so be nice." He turns to Heli. "Please, tell them about yourself."
"Like what?" Heli wheezes. His voice is barely more than a whisper. His throat burns. He really needs to eat soon.
"How are we going to feed him?" Avys leans to whisper in Eugene's ear, but his voice carries around the tiny room anyway.
They mutter among themselves. It's a peculiar feeling, like Eugene's just brought home a strange stray animal.
Finally the one called Taho claps his hands. "I've got it," he says and disappears into the kitchen.
He returns with a glass full of thick red liquid. Heli takes the glass. It's cold.
"What is this?" he coughs.
"Cow blood."
"Ahh," a chorus rings out among the other four.
"I forgot you were going to the butcher's today."
"Cow?" Heli repeats.
"Is that okay?"
Blood is blood he supposes, but he's been told animal's blood is dirty and gross. In his current state he has no room to complain. He takes a sip. And then another.
He supposes he wouldn't die but it's not filling him with the energy he's expecting or the warmth he needs. He frowns.
"Is there something wrong with it?" Taho asks.
"It's- it's. Well you know. It's cold."
"Do you want me to heat it up for you?"
"I'd appreciate it." Heli is sure Taho is being facetious as he smiles down at him.
"You're all really okay with this?" Viken shouts.
But Taho shrugs and takes back the glass.
"No problem."
"What are you, a blood snob?" Avys snickers.
Heli is sinking further into the couch.
"How old are you?" Soule asks.
"Sixteen. No, that's not right. Twenty-one. Wait. What year is it?"
Eugene laughs. "1978."
1978. The number swims around in Heli's brain. He slowly blinks.
"I was born in 1892."
"Ok, so you're eighty-six. That's not that old, not for a vampire, anyway."
"Yeah, look at his clothes! People dressed like that in 1892."
"He wasn't twenty-one in 1892."
They talk over each other and Heli struggles to keep up.
Taho returns, the refilled glass of blood in hand. It's a glorious, fresh-from-the-body temperature and surprisingly satisfying. Heli downs half the glass in one gulp.
Eugene is standing over him. "People don't dress like that now, in any case. You have to get with the times."
Heli chokes. "This isn't something we wore every day. I don't think."
"You don't remember?"
"So then why are you wearing it?"
"I'm pretty sure my grandparents are around that age."
He's sinking again but this time it's under the non-stop talking.
Eugene props Heli back up and sinks into the couch cushion next to him.
"What's the last year you remember?" His voice is soft.
He thinks, trying to sort through the murkiness of his memories. They're all blurring together.
He walks up to the highest tower. She's there waiting. Waiting to kill him.
That can't have been it right? No, he knows it wasn't. He remembers dying in her tower. And he remembers waking up in her arms. But after this, it's blank. His head is full of fog and he wants to go back to sleep.
"I'm not sure."
"Alright. Well. You still need a change of clothes. And a bath. You look slightly less mummified but you're dusty."
At Eugene's behest, Viken leads him upstairs to a bathroom. Viken mutters and groans the whole way up the stairs. Inside there's a white tub. Viken pulls a towel out of a small closet and hands it to him.
"Alright, there you are. You know how plumbing works right?"
Heli blinks at him. "Yes, we had running water."
"Are you sure? Turn it this way for hot, this knob for cold. Off is the other way. Don't flood the place." He slams the door on his way out.
Heli's jacket, being a thick and heavy material, is mostly intact. Dark stains spot the white fabric. In a few places, the gold trim is peeling away, leaving loose thread and broken stitches. The lighter clothing underneath is nearly rotten. His linen shirt falls off his body in pieces and crumbles under his touch. His hand goes to his neck and he feels the cool metal of a fine silver chain. He exhales in relief. The locket is still here.
He feels sick.
How long had it been since they'd abandoned him?
And he can't believe it. He would have never imagined Jaan and the rest to just leave him there.
As he sinks into the warm water another, even worse thought crosses his mind.
What if something happened to them?
What if he was alone because…the rest are gone?
He smacks a hand to his forehead. If he could just remember…
The door opens a crack and someone drops a pile of clothes.
"You look like you're about the same height as Avys." It's Eugene. "So here are some of his pyjamas you can wear for now."
The pyjamas are a soft red tartan. The fit isn't bad either. By the time he emerges from the bathroom, only Viken is still awake, tending the last coals in the fireplace.
"You can sleep on the couch," he says. "If you sleep, that is."
There's a blanket on the couch, and pillows.
"When the sun comes up," Heli responds.
Viken nods.
"You've still got a few hours then. I'm going to bed."
He starts up the stairs.
"You're lucky, you know." Heli says.
Viken stops.
"That there wasn't anyone in the castle. You went hunting for vampires without knowing the first thing about them."
"Ahh, I get it now," Viken scoffs. "You are useful."
He disappears into the darkness of the second floor, leaving Heli to ponder what exactly he's useful for.
As the first rays of sunlight creep over the horizon, he settles himself, sinking into the plush couch, pulls the blanket over his head, and falls into deathlike slumber.