V's P.O.V.~
Ever since I opened my eyes and became something that wasn't human, not once did I think potentially hurting someone could be a fear. I've treaded carefully, kept my distance, and thought nothing of it when the dryness in my throat screamed. I spent weeks going until I couldn't anymore from the slightest drop of blood, and the terror my body ached with ever-changing thrill.
I think…that's what made me begin to black out whenever I craved for a hunt.
So when I felt someone kicking beneath me, panting with her sweet scent lingering in the air, purple eyes wide and cheeks flushed, my common sense smacked me upside the head.
"A-Ah f-fuck…" She breathed, back arching. Her feet were limped to the ground, lost in a thrashing fight of one that never would never win in the first place. Her blood was pure and red, the sweet taste coating my tongue and sparking something inside of me that I never felt before.
Sweetness, change—pleasure, in all its glory. My grip on her softened, fangs still tucked comfortably into her collarbone, tongue splaying over her smooth skin, each lick sending a shiver down her spine that I could feel from her trembling body. Her mouth was open, a small moan escaping as her gothic pools eyed me with spite and fury.
'I love that look. Don't turn away, don't push me off. I want you just like this…I want this for forever. I want you…'
Wait—
I WANT her?
The hell?
Everything snapped back into me at once, realization finally making me pull away and feel the red liquid dripping down my chin. U laid there in only a black camisole and underwear, her gaze never wavering while her hands remained pinned above her head with my tail.
"F-Fuck was that for?! You couldn't even let me get changed?!"
"I—no you don't understand that wasn't…I wasn't trying to…" My head shook, slowly rising back up on my feet but keeping her down. I didn't want to chance her jumping at me, little do I know she's got weapons to use against us hidden in here. I returned to my cold and blank expression, folding my arms across my chest. "Whatever. J said we could feed off you anyways and I got a little hungry."
"A LITTLE?" She burst, her energy half gone but legs kicking and thrashing about once more. "That was more than just a little V! What was that? Do you know how embarrassing that was? I'm not a fucking blood bag you can just drink out of any time you wish! I'm already cold and you just HAD to—"
"Knock it off already!" I griped, using my hold on her wrists to slam them back down making her yelp. "Just give me a second, will you?"
"FUCK NO! You drank from me you freaky vampire bitch!"
"Hey! This freaky vampire bitch saved you just so you know! Had N and I not been here that day you would've never came out of paralysis! Hell, maybe you would've died!"
"Shut the fuck up!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, frustration replacing whatever bliss was staged before. Heavy breaths fell from her lungs, head turned to the side like she refused to look at me. Looking closer, I realized her cheeks were damp, cold red-tipped nose sniffling.
"Are you crying?"
"No!"
"U…"
"I'm not crying now will you let me go? It's cold!"
I narrowed my eyes, pursing my lips to relish the little taste of her I had left. N was right, she was sweet. I've never tasted blood quite like hers before, there's something about it that lights a fire deep in my stomach, yearning for more. But I pause, accepting the only thing that must be running through her mind right now.
She's humiliated. Upset. Embarrassed.
Here this girl is, confident as ever and her life was turned upside down. But she was willing to make the most of it, use the harsh weather conditions in her favor to survive even if no one would ever help her out again. She thought it was the end when she was simply lying there in the desolate cold, no other warm presence in sight.
The number of nights that passed, or how many times the sun woke up in the crisp morning to say hello. She missed that, all of them to just lay there like a fish out of water right by its tank.
"I'm sorry." I muttered, rubbing my arm and turning away. "I didn't mean to make you feel like shit. I don't know what came over me, honest."
"Yeah, I can tell." She snapped back with venom in her voice, though it croaked with sorrow. "Can you let me go now? I'm cold."
"Can I trust you not to kill me?"
"What the hell would I kill you with in here? I'm pretty sure any wooden steaks I did have either splintered or got stolen by now. Not like I'd try anyways. You'd kill me first in this amount of proximity."
'Good point.'
My tail uncoiled around her wrists and she slowly sat up, groaning with a little pain. Red marks covered the area, my guilt burying a deeper place in my dark undead heart. What the fuck is wrong with me? I was the one who told N we should do something, I walked up to her in the first place…everything was me when we first met. And here I am treating her like she might as well be the dirt back on earth.
"Didn't know your tails could do that." U commented, rubbing the inflamed marks. "You guys really don't hold back, do you?"
"It's not that…" I whispered, crouching down onto my knees. She flinched for a second but kept her weak and pathetic guard up. I took too much blood, she probably can't even stand up properly right now. Lending out my own hand, I gestured my fingers to her wrist closest to me. "Let me see."
"No way."
"Don't be difficult."
"This wouldn't have happened in the first place if you just flew normally."
"Ugh I know!" I groaned impatiently, snagging her arm instead. "I have…horrible bloodlust. It's like I black out every time my body reaches its limit. Unfortunately, you happened to be the closest one with a strong heartbeat, so I came to you. But I restrained."
"You call THAT restraint?"
Running my thumb over the swelt made her hiss in pain, trying to pull away. But I kept my hold on her tight. I'm not proud of it, though I think my worrisome gaze made her go stiff. "I wasn't trying to purposefully hurt you. Same thing with the snow. I honestly thought it was funny and we'd get a good laugh out of it."
U's jaw snapped shut, staring at me blankly for a couple of seconds before connecting the dots. "Were you trying to bond with me or something?"
"Don't make it sound so embarrassing!" I cleared my throat, keeping my focus on the injuries instead of the curious amethyst eyes begging me to glance upward. "Not bond as much as trying to get to know you. Like, what your true intentions were."
"Bonding." She confirmed irritatingly again, causing me to sigh. I brought her wrist to my mouth and stretched my tongue across. Inflammation wasn't the same thing as blood, but even her skin was a delectable little appetizer of what might as well have been liquid gold. In a matter of seconds the swelt was gone, and a little bit of my guilt with it. "That never ceases to amaze me. I don't understand how you guys can heal so quickly like that."
"Don't ask, you don't wanna know."
Just thinking about the past made me nauseated, though I didn't miss that interested look she held. I know everything I say will just lure her more into the darkness, there's nothing else but horror on the other side of the playing field. U may have been exiled but she doesn't know what it feels like to go what we went through. Every single day was hell.
Every. Goddamn. Day.
After healing her other wrist, I left the room for good this time to let her change, praying a wooden weapon didn't follow itself along strapped to anywhere I couldn't see. Not like I would blame her after our little showdown, but she'd meet a worse fate with J than sticking around me for a few more hours.
Setting up a small fire wasn't too bad, there was enough cracks and open areas in the complex to let the smoke escape. Not ideal—but it got the job done. I grabbed a small backpack and began to pick up the strange equipment, some looking old while other additions appeared to be constructed in recent events. A smile spread itself across my face, thinking about the nights where maybe she worked long past sleeping hours to make them.
The struggles of being human and fighting the urge to sleep.
Oh, how I miss that feeling, studying my anki cards until I couldn't anymore. I'd rather do that than whatever the hell I'm doing now. Stuck on a planet with little to no warmth, and not craving blood every time my stomach decides to be a menace.
"Shit!" A familiar voice cursed while stumbling over a random piece of rubble. I turned around and extended a hand without thinking, spotting a tuft of purple hair. She eyed it curiously, slowly taking it and allowing me to lead her closer to warmth.
"Are your clothes going to be good enough to make the trip back?" I inquired, reaching for something I originally brought with us. Er—well, something I brought just in case I actually did lose control. "The pod isn't too far away but I'd rather be safe than sorry."
'More enough than I already am anyway.'
"I'll be fine." Was all she spoke, voice timid and quiet. Her shoulders hunched in on themselves and sat on the opposite side. Her hands rose against the fire's flame, the golden hue reflecting off her like a gothic witch on a fall night. Considering it was around sunset when we set out, the nights sky engulfed the world in its usual darkness with the galaxy stretching across the globe.
I clutched the two containers in my hands before swiftly setting them down in front of her. My head didn't dare lift, continuing to act as if the flames were the most interesting thing in the world.
"What are those?"
"Just open them." I spat, turning again and setting a spoon down before retreating. "Careful with the second one, and so help me if you tell anyone about this I'll make sure no one believes you."
In front of her were two thermos's I'd prepared, my cheeks growing warm at how her face lightly lit up. "You…made food?"
"It's just some leftover soup and something to get your blood sugar up. Don't make a big deal out of it."
She didn't say anymore, simply unscrewing the first cap and taking in a whiff of the steam flowing out. It's standard and nothing special, but her gaze was supple…and dare I say a small smile was evident. I leaned back against the wall and hugged my knees tight to my chest, watching her eat in peace.
Such small details about her seemed like cute little flaws, ones I enjoyed. The way she licked her lips if some dribbled to the side, or like the way her legs were crossed, moving up and down with each bite. Her delicate hand wrapped around the thermos's cylinder tightly, stealing all its warmth. I wished I was the spoon, feeling her hot tongue all over me.
'Stop it.'
A shaky breath came out of me, body hot and the tingling sensation never going away. The space in between my legs throbbed with need, yet I felt every urge to betray all I knew.
N is my lover, not her.
But…she' so strong, just like him. It's what I felt when I first saw her lying on the floor where we were now.
"Holy shit! You made hot chocolate?!" Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, embarrassment flooding my entirety. "I can't remember the last time I had it. I think maybe in my class for the holiday…back when I was a kid."
"A kid?"
"Mhmm." She nodded, looking away but holding the second thermos close. "Forget it, it's stupid."
"Nah, more like sad." I commented, smirking. "Haven't had it since you were a kid? Did you live under a rock back in the bunker or something?"
"Hey—fuck you, okay? There were more important things than playing around and drinking hot cocoa underground."
"Like what?"
"Well, not dying for one." She took a sip, breathing in a deep sigh afterwards then scooted closer to the fire. "And I was the chief's daughter, so I had bigger responsibilities at a younger age."
"Now you're just talking out of your ass." I rolled my eyes, standing up to stretch. She gasped in an offended manner, holding her freehand to her chest.
"I am not! I really did have to learn how to use the bunker's tech okay? Dad thought it would be better for me to learn young so it became like second na—" She slapped a hand over her mouth in realization, my smirk growing wider until my fangs flashed in the moonlight.
"Second…nature?" Spinning on my heel, I fixed my arms over my head and behind my back. "If that's the case, then you know another way into the bunker?"
"No." U spat out too quickly, shoving the hot drink into her rambling mouth causing her to almost burn her tongue.
"Good answer."
"Huh?"
"Don't tell J something like that, okay? She won't leave you alone until you do, and she'll do the most horrible things too. She'd probably torture the shit out of you."
"Says the vampire who pounced on me just now."
My attitude did a one-eighty, the corners of my mouth tipping downwards into a frown. "Aw, and here I thought I was making progress, no?"
"Absolutely not!" She froze, head snapping down at the two now-empty thermos's, pointing at them with vigor. "The soup and cocoa were a ruse! How dare you?!"
"It was a peace offering!"
"I refuse!"
"You can't refuse since you already at ate and drank them!"
"You tricked me!"
"I did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too—!"
The sound of some kind of engine revving came from outside, the pair of us going silent. We turned our heads in the direction of the sound, the window being our only view into what was outside.
"What the hell…?" U muttered, creeping over to the windowsill.
"I've never heard a sound like that on this planet, does your bunker have operating vehicles?"
"No…" The angsty goth shook her head, "The only vehicle I've only ever seen or ran was my bike I made."
"You made a bike?"
"Yeah, it was supposed to help me get to different destinations faster. Humans can only travel so far in the snow before frost bite occurs so it only made sense. It was like a prototype but it did the job the single time I rode it."
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out she was talking about the ride when she was exiled. My mind wondered off, noting how I didn't spot anything of the sort when N and I first found her. Another part of me was impressed though…she built a whole bike from scratch?
I can only imagine the amount of hard work it took to do something like that, even more days spent sitting down, sketching blueprints, collecting the parts…oil everywhere, on her forehead, her clothes, her…chest and….
'Fuck, what the hell is wrong with me? Mind out of the gutter, there could be an intruder!'
"Get away from there." I grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back where her small frame could remain hidden. I crawled below the small space under the window, peaking over only slightly to spot a soft light in the distance, tracking what appeared to be headed over in our direction.
I muttered a small curse to myself, head whipping back over to the fire and human. "I think they're coming our way."
"You're kidding…" Her shoulders dropped in disbelief.
"Wish I were, we'll have to cut this short. I was hoping to let you get some sleep first."
"Like I'd willingly put myself in a vulnerable position like that."
"Can you take this seriously for a second U? If you get hurt J will let me have it and I may not—!"
"Okay!" She snapped, throwing her hands up. "Arguing is getting us nowhere so what the hell do we do?! The fire's smoke will tell someone was here anyway so what's the point? Why don't we just hide? Maybe they'll zip by instead."
"That's…not a bad idea, actually."
"Are you a vampire or stupid?"
"I will suck the blood right back out of you if you keep talking like that." Adrenaline shot through my veins, looking around and frantically rushing to fit anymore equipment in my sights. "Get to the door, now."
"But—"
"I said NOW!" The sound of the vehicle was getting closer, we didn't have much time before whoever was approaching got to the complex itself. In a swift motion I zipped up the backpack and used my wings to swoop through the air, grabbing U and flying out the shattered window, taking refuge on top of the building straight across where we were out of sight.
"Warn me the next time you do that!" The goth whisper-yelled. "That was fucking terrifying!"
"Keep your voice down, they're almost here!"
"Wait…" She leaned forward, purple eyes widening and jaw dropping. "Fuck! That's my bike! They stole my bike!"
The loud engine's body creeped into the alleyway, its host parking it to the side, kicking the stand over. They swung their legs over, reaching behind their neck and pulling out their long strands of indigo locks out of a thick denim jacket. Red eyes searched about the place, scanning the area before entering the building. U's hands tightened around my arms, baring her teeth.
"That's…"
"You know her?" I questioned, raising a brow. She nodded her head, swallowing what might as well been the cold air down her throat.
"That's my cousin, Doll. She was exiled years ago. We thought she was dead!"
"Doll? What an odd name."
'Name…what is U's name I wonder?'
"We need to go," I urged, pulling her back. "Something about this doesn't feel right."
"But my bike!"
"U, we can't go near there, what if she hurts you?"
"Well she's not flying around like a mindless bloodsucker so obviously she must have found a way to cure the infection! O-Or at least make it subside; we could talk to her!"
"You're not talking to her, not right now."
"But she knew where I was! Even if she didn't report my whereabouts she must know something! We can't let this opportunity slip away!" Her breath hitched, eyes pleading with a light shining so brightly. "Please, V. She's the only other family who was also infected."
"U, I said no! Even if she had your best interests in mind then why didn't she try to find some way to take you with her? Why leave you in the complex like that? How do you know she didn't have some ulterior motive?"
Her head fell downward, letting her hands limply slip past down to her sides. I felt horrible, keeping her away from her only family she could still interact with. It's not to be selfish, or even in fear of the bitchy leader waiting for us back at the landing pod. It's because of her aura she gives off, it radiates danger. I can smell her bloodlust all the way from here, aching for something more.
And there's some kind of familiar scent on her I knew all too well, one that made me nervous, and a little sick.
"I'm sorry, you can be mad at me all you want but I need you to trust me on this."
We need to get away from here, NOW.
"Fine…"
"I'm sorry, U."
And just like that, it felt like all the progress we might have made slipped out of my grasp, back into the dumpster of a void.
Uzi's P.O.V.~
~~~
"Come a little closer, U." V urged, opening her arms out to me. Her wide-fanged smile was evident, stretched across the endless time we had with one another. I stood there in a trance, feeling a breeze enlightening through my body, our silhouette's bare but hearts full.
I clutched a hand to my chest and the other my throat, feeling some kind need for thirst awaken deep in my core. A warm presence snook up behind me, his strong and muscular arm looping around my waist. His hot, bated breath tingling against my skin.
"There's no need to be nervous, U," N's voice fluttered to my eardrums, my body now aware of its surroundings. He smiled into my neck, tongue teasingly licking a stripe to the lobe of my ear. "One step at a time is all we need."
He takes a step forward, pushing me to the female vampire.
"Wait—" I speak but immediately squeal at N's big hands finding their way to my chest. "N-no…what are you doing?" A heavy breath falls from my lungs as he squeezes, knees buckling and threatening to fall to the ground.
V's dark chuckle elicited a strong fire in my belly, swirls of warmth and need shooting downward creating a throbbing in between my legs. She pressed her large chest against mine, head leaning forward to the other side of my own, lips pressing along my temple, down my cheek and then finally my neck.
Her fangs poked me ever-so-slightly, little nicks here and there drawing small droplets of blood, and her tongue lapping it up like a delicious dessert. Unlike N, her hands were soft, strong fingers mischievously trailing down my torso and rounding the curves of my ass, nails pressing light lines to mark where she'd been.
"V—!" I breathed, unable to take the amount of touch, N's lower hips grinding from behind, and the pressure building up inside of my abdomen. "I-I….ah~!"
My head shoved itself into the crook of her neck, hands gripping her shoulders with such intensity I don't know how she didn't bother to pry me off. A sweet smell emerged in the air, my throat growing dry and body yearning with need.
"Go ahead," The womanly vamp cooed, her counterpart following not too long after from behind and licking the shell of my ear.
"Drink." N spoke, dragging the locks away from my nape before sinking his own sharp canines in. Though I couldn't quite hear myself, my chest rumbled and mouth opened like a moan, V's fangs finding their own little spot along my collarbone.
My heart pumped faster, working nonstop as I slowly ran my hand up V's shoulder, mouth quivering leaning closer until finally sinking my teeth into her. She made a loud sound of pleasure, pressing her body into me more with encouragement.
Her blood was so sweet. Sweeter than any hot cocoa, sweeter than my passion for revenge, and sweeter than any kind of loneliness I'd put myself through.
N let go of his hold on me, fangs piercing into his own wrist before drinking up a mouthful and pulling me back by hair, connecting his lips with mine and letting it pour. His counterpart found her way down to the swells of my breasts, pleasure shooting a pleasant shock through my entire system.
His blood was a bit on the tangy side, years of sour treatment evident in his emergence to victory. I could taste his craving for something more, a powerful leadership that resided deep in his soul. He craves a desperate connection, one so strong it could never be broken.
My legs trembled with delight, the consistent throbbing and heat shooting downward finally contracting my muscles, and walls falling in an instant.
~~~
I opened my eyes and gasped, shooting upward from the bed I'd now slept who knows how many nights on. My hands clutching the blanket so hard that the sheet at some point had been pulled off from the corner revealing a hint of the old mattress.
Sweat plastered against my skin, mixed with the cool dead of night. My body might as well have been dipped into a pool, clothes stuck to every inch and crevice. I ran my hands over my face and into the damp smelly locks of my hair, breathing heavily.
'What the HELL was that?!'
A dream. A dirty dream. About not one vampire but TWO! There must be something seriously wrong with me—who the hell even dreams about their blood getting sucked and then…that? Looking down, I removed the blanket off to reveal my trembling legs still pale as ever. Thanks to V's cooking though, I haven't lost a whole ton of weight, which means starvation isn't necessarily a worry.
Still though…dreaming about a pair of bloodsuckers is setting off all kinds of alarms. I feel like I'm betraying my own self in the process, because while I know it was my own moral default…I didn't HATE it.
"Get a grip Uzi…" I whispered to no one but myself, sighing at the slightly embarrassing mess I got myself into. Like hell I'm going to alert any one of them, and luckily from what I observed I could switch out my sheets no problem knowing their whereabouts.
***
"Ah…that's better." I sighed in relief at the warm steam surrounding me, small frame wrapped in a towel. After switching out the sheets I had gone and taken a shower, the hot water helping to at least partially render my mind too tired to think about my dream from before.
Sometimes if I closed my eyes for too long however, it felt like their arms were wrapping back around my waist, or even just the thought and imagination of their breath's hitting my skin appeared. Biting the bottom of my lip, I leaned against the wall in front of a small body mirror.
I'm not curvy or have bigger assets like V does, and while I know I have enough courage to bite someone's fingers should they piss me off enough, I'm not as strong-willed as N. I look at my reflection like I'm some kind of freak, unable to walk the world like anyone else does. There's too much at stake, but my insecurities still linger.
I wonder if they would do something like that though.
Their relationship is strong, I've seen how protective they get over one another. It's a forged bond between the two of them, one I think I've come to envy. No one has ever touched me like that or cared enough to even try
.
I run my hand down along my thigh and squeeze it just how they did in the dream, but my mind nulls the feeling. It's not the same. This person staring back at me in the mirror knows just about as much as a deer ready to flee, technology may not even be enough to offset the overall tone of what I can do.
What if they find me useless?
'Why does that matter? You hate them, remember?'
Well….
'Look what happened to your mother. Would she want this for you?'
That thought struck a blade right through my heart. I'm not here to be a blood bag, nor some kind of pet to just summon whenever. Dad may have not had my back but I know mom would've, whatever that possibility might have been like. But what made mom fall for dad? What did she see in him that made her decide to settle down and have me?
From what I've heard from others, getting her to settle down was as hard as oil colliding with water. For a split moment there might be some reaction but it dissipates just as quickly, building its barriers back up.
Was this my chance to get away or am I here for a different reason?
"Hello? Is someone in there?" J's voice made me jump out of my thoughts, staring at the door as she continued to knock.
"Quit knocking will you! Give me a minute damn!"
"Relax, I just saw the light on from under the door," She scoffed, "Why are you up so late? Not trying to escape are you?"
"How would I even be able to? You hid all my winter gear, remember? I'd die within the next hour."
The leader bitch went quite for a moment before I heard a heavy sigh through the door. "Just get dressed and then come into the kitchen. If you're up we might as well talk. I have a few questions."
'Questions?'
"About?" I turned the knob subtly to get a better look at the vamp on the other side.
J was…well she looked frightened. She was biting at the nail on her thumb, glancing downward in deep thought. Her eyes were filled with what looked like a mixture of curiosity and recall, golden pools swirling into a bright light off her soft skin tone. Even her pigtails were a little frizzy, unconstructed—which is unlike her usual stature. It was off, and VERY concerning.
"Your equipment."
"It's just normal equipment," I insisted. "There's nothing in there that can exactly kill you if that's what you're worried about. I'm not that stupid to just leave something like that lying around."
"What does mean?" She flicked her tail over my head, but she's done it enough times now it doesn't bother me all that much anymore. "Do you have a weapon I should know about?"
"When would I even be able to get a weapon J? You only let me run around the pod and that's it. I don't have the time."
She paused, arms folding across her chest as she realized I was right. I don't like admitting it but if there was one thing she made sure of, it was that any kind of weapon that was already in the craft rarely did any actual damage to them. I'd have to swing an iron bat for hours to even create a wound hurtful enough to make them heal for days on end.
"Ten minutes. Be in the kitchen in ten minutes. Understand?"
"Yeah, yeah."
I waved her off and began walking down the hallway covered in metal, a strange sensation washing over me. No doubt her eyes were pinned to every step I took. But each time it was like I wanted to stay rooted to the ground, make her think that maybe I did have a weapon on me. Would a bluff be so bad?
Just like little miss bitch leader asked, I was in and out within ten minutes, deciding to go with a baggy t-shirt that N gave me from supposedly his closet, and shorts that V insisted were "too ugly to wear". I strutted back into the small kitchenette to find her sitting at the table, elbows resting along the hard surface and fingers interlocked. Her heel bounced up and down in a rapid manner, once again her stare just as prominent.
"Where did you find that equipment?"
"Some of it was from my own bunker and the other stuff was from abandoned office buildings." I shrugged, sitting in the weak wooden chair right across from her. "Why?"
"It's just…familiar. You work with technology often?"
"In a sense." I nodded, looking down at the floor. Twiddling my thumbs together in a desperate attempt to lead the conversation away from my strengths. "What I don't appreciate though is being a blood bag. Why did you make N and V starve? Couldn't you have spared a few bottles of blood?"
"We aren't talking about that right now we're talking about your equipment. There's a computer along with some other additions that help with detection around the area you set it up in and collects data. Am I correct in assuming that?"
"What?" Every aspect about this felt wrong, the way she was looking at me with such intensity. "Well…yeah but—"
"Well then you're in luck." J sighed, turning her head to look out the window. We were lucky, no blizzard. "Over the past couple of days I've had N constructing a little addition outside that's like a small workshop of sorts. You will set up your equipment and start using it in our favor."
My hands clenched together, lips forming into a grim line of disapproval. "I'm not doing anything for you."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I don't have any kind of reason to be doing anything for any of you. I'm the hostage in this situation!"
"You wouldn't be alive if N and V hadn't found you."
"Okay, and?" I threw my hands up, coughing out a dry laugh. "That was just pure dumb luck! If anything, the only debt I have to repay is to THEM. Not you."
The pigtailed bitch went quiet for a minute, her aura so cold and violating I hunched in on myself, ass glued to the chair. Her stare was like those in horror movies, pupils thin while the dark color radiated danger. I swallowed a hard lump in my throat, ready for anything she would throw at me.
Will she kill me?
'Maybe. She could if she really wanted to.'
"Uzi Doorman, right?"
"What the fuck?!" Screw the chair, I bolted right out of it and stood head-to-head with her. She knows my name, my full name.
How?!
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out you were using a fake name for a reason. Those infected and young like you usually have their genes carried from a parent, very rarely have we found the actual test subjects."
"You know about the test subjects? A-about the infection?"
"That I do. There are labs in the underground, files explaining what the humans did to turn those into immortal blood-drinking machines." Her tail swerved around, revealing an old file with a name that was a sight for sore eyes. "Test Subject 002 Nori—or as your kind called her Nori Doorman—was one of the first signs of success they had managed to achieve."
"Where did you find that? What do you want?"
"I can help you, Uzi." J took a few steps closer, pouting her bottom lip in a pitiful manner. "I just need a little help. Do that, and this file along with many others can be all yours. Hell, you could even take revenge on your bunker if you wanted to."
Taking a few steps back, she sighed louder this time, inching me into the corner. "You don't understand the extent. You don't know how far this really goes. There's information in here, that the infection can be CURED."
"Curing a vampire?" A laugh bubbled up my throat as I shook my head. "You're lying."
"Am I, though?" She waved the file in my face, easily within reach. "Don't you want the truth? About the infection? Everything? What REALLY happened to your mother?"
Every fiber in my being stopped at that very moment. Time ticked away silently, stealing the breath out of my lungs. The file continued to wave in slow motion, my heartbeat growing louder by the second. What does she mean by what really happened?
"What are you on about? I know how my mother died! That's no secret!"
"Well according to these papers it is apparently. Seems like Khan was hiding a lot more than you thought. There's even some stuff about you in here."
"Liar! Keep my family name out of your filthy mouth!"
"Take it easy there human, it won't take much to break you." Her serious expression turned into one of a sadistic smile, eyes growing wider like they were going to suck my own living soul. "It only takes one word to know the truth, and this would be mutually beneficial to the both of us, no? I could even talk to headquarters back on earth, you won't have to worry about being killed. You'd be off the roster. I'm offering you an olive branch here."
My chest rose and fell rapidly, back clinging to the cool metal. My eyes never left her own, and it took every instinct in me to not fall back and retreat. The answer is right in front of me, I can see it clear as day. The truth is, just how badly does J need me alive to offer me a way out? It's uncanny, the actual reason not too far away from her ironic barrier of lies.
"Bite me." I rose my fist upward punched right under her jaw, causing her to stumble backward. It wasn't enough to do any real damage but packed just enough force to give me a brief opening. J let out a howl of pain, covering her face as her tail dropped the file.
In a brief second, I ran over and kicked one of the legs onto the weak wooden table, causing it to break off. Splinters fell all over the place, but the one thing I needed was there. I bent over and picked up the newly jagged stake, punching the ends to form a slight sharp tip.
It was horrible, pathetic, and weak looking, but the amount of power this thing had was all I needed. In the next moment I ran back over and threw the file into one of the cupboards, taking my stance as the vampiric bitch herself focused her eyes back onto me.
"OH YOU'VE DONE IT NOW!" Right as she was about to pounce, her vison spotted the rigged wooden stake, making her freeze. "You little…"
"I'm not stupid." I spat, gesturing my head to where I threw the file. "Wherever you got that may concern me, but don't think I'll let you use me as a doormat to wipe your feet under! If we're doing this, we're doing it under my terms, understand? J?"
"You think you can just come in here and threaten a vampire? Are you stupid or just dumb?!" She swung her tail around and stabbed the sharp end right into my shoulder, pain shooting right through me. I dropped the piece of wood as I was tossed across the kitchen, sliding across the floor and a big red trail not following too long after.
She harshly pulled it out, letting the coil linger back to its original state. "FUCKING MONSTER!" I screamed, tears helplessly falling down my cheeks as more blood flowed like a waterfall.
"What's going on—U?!" N's large frame came into view from the hallway, V following not too far behind. Their eyes were widened, immediately crouching down by my side as J continued to stand there and watch. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"J…" V hissed, whipping around and getting into a fighting stance. "I thought we weren't going to hurt her! She hasn't done anything wrong!"
"Interesting…" The pigtailed leader clicked her tongue, smiling while bending down and picking up the file. "So you're willing to protect the human. Good to know."
"What?" N looked over his shoulder, hugging my injured body against his chest. "Shit…"
"S-stop saving me…" I muttered, pathetically trying to pry away his arm. All I want to do is lean into the embrace, so unused to touch, but there's no thought in my mind V would hate that. I know she would. That's how she made it seem anyways. I'm not a homewrecker, not a damsel in distress that needs saving. This fight is between J and I.
So why do I feel so happy they came to my aid?
"J!" N growled, pulling on V's wrist and urging her to let me use her as a resting spot instead. She didn't fight as he stood up, walking to the one at fault. "The fuck did you touch her for? What did you do?!"
"Keep talking to me like that and I'll make sure your punishment—"
"I'll take any goddamn punishment over you hurting those two! If you got a problem then you come to me not them!"
She looked appalled, but a mischievous fire gleamed behind her eyes. N's word made my cheeks grow red, and V chuckled looking down.
"He's got a knack for words, doesn't he?"
"W-what? I—no! Bite me that's not what I…"
"Careeeeful." The hot vampiric woman tapped my nose, humming with satisfaction. "One of these days we might take you up on your offer~."
"Why are you so calm about this?" I readjusted my position to be turned more towards her, our faces mere inches apart. "He could get hurt…"
"J couldn't touch N within a ten-foot pole."
"What?"
"Let's just say there's a lot more to him than it seems."
"How do you…" My brain reflected back to their little flirting session from before, a hand slapping over my mouth from realization. "You know what? Never mind."
"This is our business N, you have no say in what Uzi decides to do." J remarked, hugging the folder confidently to her chest as they only stood a few feet away from each other.
"Uzi?" He turned around as the one keeping her hold on me glanced down. Their eyes never left my gaze, and for some reason the small need growing shot down and developed a familiar throbbing sensation between my legs.
"Your real name is Uzi?" V whispered, her hand running up and cupping my cheek. I flinched in her gentle hold but quickly relished in the feeling.
"Y-yeah…so?"
"It's…"
"Beautiful." They spoke in unison.
~Third Person P.O.V.~
!Many Years Ago!
***
Stars gleamed like sapphires in the sky, the wind a light breeze as the forest shifted colors to a neutral fall. The moon hung high into the air, ready to say hello and grant all humans a good night. The critters of nature snuggled up in their little homes, sleeping close enough to share an indulging warmth.
Under all of that lay a couple on the roof of a car, just right on the outskirts of town. A male who'd been tired of his long journey of lectures from his university and part time job, and his girlfriend snuggling right into his arm in her scrubs, having just gotten off for the day at her internship from the local hospital.
It was a small town, nothing big or extravagant. A perfect little place for just the two of them, and a night still filled with wonders beyond reach.
"Nickoli? Hey, c'mon you're falling asleep again." His girlfriend chuckled softly, half-tired herself from the long day of non-stop calls for nurses over the intercom. All because someone said it was 'awfully quiet tonight'.
The male jumped from the contact, feeling her cold hand lay on his cheek. He grabbed it and rubbed his thumb over the midst of her palm, pulling it to his mouth to give it a warm, soft kiss. She sighed with delight, leaning into his chest and accepting the gratifying height of their situation. "Babe, you know I love you but we can't keep stalling. Tessa can't keep your parents held up for forever."
"Yeah," Nickoli sighed, glancing down at his lovable significant other. He slid his freehand up her back, pressing another kiss onto her temple. "I just don't know how they'll react. I mean, I want all of you to meet, but my family can be…well…traditional."
"What's wrong with that?" She let her fingers crawl along his torso, pulling him in by the tip of his chin.
He swallowed a nervous lump down his throat, darting his eyes to anywhere but her lips. He knew if he starred long enough, there would be no returning back to their place tonight. Only them and the old hand-me-down car that had almost seen it all at this point. "Nothing! Er—well there's some things that are good about traditional families but what I mean is that…traditional in the sense that they might not…approve…of you."
"Do you need them to approve of me?" The female pushed back slightly, raising a brow with complete and utter defense written all over her face.
"What? Vivianne no—that's not what I meant." Nickoli rubbed a hand over his face and groaned. "Let me try that again—I don't need their approval. But…Tessa and Cyn are important to me, and they still live with them. And I really think that you all would get along so well because of how much you may have in common with them."
He thought back to his sisters, Tessa being the second born to the prestigious Elliot family, and Cyn the youngest—though not exactly a legitimate child. The two were somewhat polar opposites to one another yet shared a decent bond and strength when it came to their parents.
Tessa was big and bold, she loved being the tomboy hidden deep inside of her heart, swopping her black frilly dress for a nice pair of oil-stained overalls and whatever robotic project she could get her hands on. The Elliot family didn't really approve of her hobbies so to speak, but she didn't care when she finished all her hard work by dusk, wiping the sweat off her forehead and feeling the nice breeze sending a comforting wash of waves through her.
Cyn on the other hand was a little different. Her passion for history had grown over the years ever since she moved in with them, sometimes being the only light in a dark tunnel when the manor got a little too quiet. She would go on and on with random facts about flowers, old structures, and weirdly enough—a bit of the creepy side of the past itself. The girl would sometimes gaze far away, like she was recalling a distant memory—conspiracy theories of cryptids or whatever eldritch beast she researched that day. Girly, but had a dark side.
The two sisters would usually get into arguments, but their big brother always came in and saved the day, coming up with some kind of compromise. But Nickoli himself wasn't necessarily always happy around that time either.
His face tipped downward into a frown, remembering when his parents had agreed to buy him a telescope so he could track the constellations he loved so dearly, only for it to turn into some kind of messed up bargained deal.
It was like he signed his life away that day. A piece of gold for a lifetime of work.
He yearned for the burning-hot stars, occasionally reaching up to the sky like he could touch them. There was always a deeper connection there, one not necessarily obvious and open, but it was one of the very things his girlfriend loved about him. The passionate glow in his eyes matched just the same whenever he laid his gaze on her, a happiness shooting in her chest like she could almost explode.
"Alright," She sighed before slipping on a mischievous smile. "I suppose I'll have to believe you. Plus I've heard how excited they get over the phone so meeting them will be interesting."
"Thank you." He cupped her cheeks and pulled the tired woman into a passionate kiss. "I love you so much."
Vivianne hummed with satisfaction, nuzzling into the crook of his neck before uttering the same phrase. She could hear him go on all night about whatever he wanted too. It could be about the stars, about whatever facts he learned from whichever sister talked to him that day, or…anything, really. The female could stare at his luscious fluffy blond locks so white they might as well be snow, and his confident bright eyes that spoke years of untarnished value. He wasn't really muscular next to the average man, but just enough that he could flip her onto his shoulder and carry off into their little apartment off campus for the night, speaking words of affirmation and acts of love.
Tonight would be serious, one that may or may not determine the fate of a happy memory. All she could hope was her field was impressive enough, and perhaps the approval of his family would be worth it in the end.
***
"Oh, god, I'm nervous." Vivianne flared her hands out by her sides, checking her reflection again and again with her pocket mirror.
Her eyeliner was sharp and modest, not too heavy but not like she was being lazy about it either—however, she did manage to sneak a part of herself in by smacking on a bold red lip, her usual signature that she was going to war. It was a perfect mixture of casual yet wanting to impress. She smoothed any hidden wrinkles on her silk-maroon dress that went down to just above the knee, spaghetti straps hiding in the black shawl with a laced design and bat-wing sleeves, the hemline only going so far as the bottom of her bust.
The only thing that might have been a little off were the flats she wore. They were a plain black to match her getup, but her mind couldn't stop going back to what her boyfriend had told her.
The Elliot family was 'traditional'.
She was already taller enough than the average woman at a whopping five-foot-ten, a pair of heels would make her look like a giant next to Nickoli, and while normally that sort of thing wouldn't bother her—there was something deep down in her soul that felt as though she should tread lightly.
Almost as if on cue, her boyfriend could spot every small insecurity she had.
"You're beautiful, hon." He stretched a hand over the console from the driver's side and placed his hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Everything will be just fine, it's only a dinner and some small talk."
His girlfriend hitched a breath, nodding slowly. No matter how many techniques she used snuggled deep inside her brain to slow her heart rate back down to a normal pulse, nothing she could say or do would tone down the dreaded pit forming in her stomach.
"You're not just saying that?"
"No," He threw his head back and laughed softly. "I'm being serious, you're…" His hands clenched, eyes trailing down from the locks of her hair styled into a short bob to the way her figure filled the dress, especially around the bust area. He cleared his throat, refocusing his attention back on the road, but never let go of her hand.
A giggle crawled up her throat, feeling that little spark inside of her ignite. He was always like this whenever her beauty was simply too much to handle. It was as though she carried herself like this queen from long ago, commanding an army over the seas of enemies swarming their lands. But for now, just for this moment, she was all his, as he was all hers.
His heart boomed inside of his chest, cheeks growing red as the familiar tightness in his fancy khakis took shape. Pressed rough against the zipper, and unable to cover it at all. It didn't take long for Vivianne to figure out why he had gone so quiet, eyes lingering and tongue grazing over her lips like they were parched.
"If only we weren't about to pull into your parents place…" It was a lost opportunity, her comment making him swerve the car a little. However, Nickoli being Nickoli, he could just as easily spot how his girlfriend was clenching her thighs tightly, biting the bottom of her red lip as she always had to entice him.
"If you're a good girl, I'll reward you when we get home." He rounded the corner as her jaw dropped in shock, the dampness in between her thighs increasing ten-fold. She folded her arms across her chest and looked out the window.
"Cocky bastard…"
"Love you too, hon." He winked.
The young couple pulled up and around, Vivianne's mood immediately going from hot and bothered to completely nervous and afraid. She'd heard of her boyfriend's place being big from their parents, but this was…well, let's just say a whole ass manor was a lot to take in.
"I thought you were exaggerating…"
"I wish," He scratched the back of his neck, putting the moving vehicle into park. "But this is where I grew up…cool, right?"
Any other individual would have shown some kind of proud feature or happy emotion, but Nickoli's expression faltered. He felt a slight wave of tiredness return, and unhappy memories flowing back into his mind. The amount of times he had to be the bigger person and scold his sisters instead of his own parents, taking the title as the eldest and only son of the family, and overall feeling like he never made them proud at all, never fully living up to the name.
To him, it was a swarm of disappointments all wrapped into a nice little platinum package.
The male looked down at his hands, years of endless work and still nowhere near his goal. Working for the world-famous NASA wouldn't be a piece of cake—he knew that. But there was more to it. He could be passionate about the subject all he wanted, though sometimes he wondered if his grades would even be enough. Likely not, and he highly doubted working part-time was impressive at all.
(A/N: Please note that those who are working part-time are just as amazing, sometimes we all have different things and events taking up our lives and that's okay (me for example). Just felt the need to clarify, carry on.)
There were other students working just as hard with a full-time job, yet here he was still getting to run around with mommy and daddy's money to support him when he couldn't make ends meet. Sometimes even making the rent was an embarrassing feat. He vowed to get a better job, but just where in the hell could he even start?
"Babe," Vivianne squeezed his hand, snapping him out of his thoughts. She frowned, noting the sad glint in his eye. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head, sighing. "Nothing. I just…wish I didn't have to depend on them as much. Feels like I'm mooching off them."
"You're not 'mooching' off them, if they're still helping you then it's a plus. They don't have to but they still do. I'm sure there's a part in them where they deeply care for you."
But alas, it wasn't that simple either. Nickoli's folks weren't the kind to simply offer charity 'just because'. There was always a purpose, and him introducing his girlfriend he'd kept quiet about up until a week ago was all that was coursing through his mind.
Did he care if they approved? No.
However, his sisters were the ones he was most worried about. Would introducing Vivianne cause them to cut off their connection from one another? Or would one of them finally speak up and have a free for all? It was always so suffocating, never knowing what would happen.
"Well," She breathed in, looking up at the large manor with a rather gothic style. "If anything, I think I at least dressed correctly."
That small but simple joke was enough to make him start laughing uncontrollably. He hunched over, holding his midsection as small tears pricked from his eyes. "W-W-hah! What?!"
"Look at this place! I mean damn babe this place is huge…" She looked down at her outfit, smiling to herself. "I think…we'll be okay."
And with that, the pair got out of the car and finally felt the breeze of a new night welcoming them. The Elliot manor held many different attractions, anywhere from the overgrown vines designed to be grown into stretched off branches and the flowers held in many different gardening beds to the golden light radiating off the windows, black trim lacing the dark wooden mahogany.
Nikoli offered his arm, Vivianne nodding her head and taking it graciously. She knew she could walk on her own, but the atmosphere this place gave off was more than she could bear, hoping that she was even just walking correctly. They trudged up the steps, taking in the light and gentle sound of classical music playing just feet away inside.
Her boyfriend knocked on the grand door, its sound echoing into the chambers of her mind.
'You can do this.'
'It won't be that bad.'
'Just some dinner and small talk, that's all.'
"Hello—Nickoli!!!" An Australian accent graced their ears, a girl jumping up and down and clapping her hands. His arm was pulled away and entrapped into a hug by the girl who Vivianne could only assume was Tessa.
Dark brown hair neatly arranged into a fancy array of braids, a black bow tying it all together on the back of her head. Pale skin, big emerald, green eyes, and a black frilly dress. "It's been a while!" She turned her head, mouth parting. "Woah…are you Vivianne?"
"Yes," The girlfriend choked out, ready to offer her hand to shake. "It's nice to meet you—!" Instead she was granted the same treatment her boyfriend received, trapped in a tight hug.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you! Cyn and I have heard so much about you! I mean—nursing?! That's amazing!"
Vivianne felt her cheeks grow red, reaching her hand onto her shoulder giving it a nervous rub. "Oh, thank you."
"Tessa…" He looked away, embarrassment written all over his face. His sister laughed, shaking her head.
"C'mon N, don't be shy now! You've got a hottie here!"
"N?" She rose a brow, the name being completely new to her ears.
"He didn't tell you?" Tessa gasped, hiking her hands onto her hips. "N, Cyn would be so disappointed."
"Cyn was a toddler, Tess."
The Australian woman waved him off and pulled his girlfriend inside, the main floor making her eyes widen.
Dark marbled floors encrusted with small lines of gold, portraits lined along the walls followed by a grand staircase with a crystal chandelier to finish. Vivianne let a shaky breath escape, a small doom falling behind her eyes. If she thought the outside was huge, the inside only carried more generational wealth.
"When Cyn first came into the family, her speech was a little off and she couldn't pronounce names or words correctly. So, since she knew the alphabet, she called us by the letters our names started with." Tessa chuckled, at the memory. "I was T for a while, but N's nickname never really wore off."
"First came into the family?"
The young girl stopped in her tracks, spinning on her heel turning towards her brother. "How much have you told her? Does she not know anything about us? That hurts, N."
"No!" He shook his head, a small hint of anger and maybe even annoyance in his tone. "She knows about you and Cyn, Tessa I just…I mean it's not like—"
"He's talked about you two," Vivianne confirmed, giving her overstimulated boyfriend a moment to look for his peace once more. "I just know the generic things though. I think he wanted us to meet and talk a little ourselves, you know, get to know one another in-person."
'N' couldn't have been more relieved for his girlfriend's save in his life. He rarely visited the household, let alone was able to hold a conversation all that much whenever his sisters went off on a tangent.
Tessa's eyes lit up as the light bulb went off in her head, nodding and understanding the situation. She seemed to calm down, relaxed her posture and acted as though she wasn't just jumping around like a kid in a candy store. "I see, well we can talk more at dinner then! As for Cyn—she was adopted."
"Really? Interesting. What made your parents want to adopt?"
"That's a good question," She forced a smile, eyes darting down. "We uh, we don't know. Mother and father never told us why. She just…showed up one day."
'Showed up? Just like that?'
"Can we not dump all the family lore on my girlfriend please?" N came up from behind and looped an arm around Vivianne's waist, looking around. "Where is Cyn anyways?"
"She'll be home soon, she went out a little bit ago."
"Where did she go?" He inquired, pulling me closer. A strange look was written on his face—almost worried.
Tessa shrugged, turning back around and leading them into a drawing room where they could sit and relax until dinner was ready, and when the real talk of the night would begin. "Not sure, she didn't say."
"Tess," N groaned, guiding his significant other to sit down on a plush couch before he himself took a seat right bedside her, his sister taking the one across from them. "I know she just graduated but we should still keep an eye on her. She's still our sister."
"Cyn's not a little girl anymore N, she can take care of herself. If she wants to go out then she can go out. It's not my job to protect her."
Even if the interaction was brief, the young female in her maroon dress was beginning to understand what her boyfriend meant. Their discussion seemed off, and with how Cyn suddenly came into their lives it must have drawn concern. She stayed silent, observing how his sibling was annoyed at him for even asking that.
"I'm not saying she isn't, it's just late and she's by herself."
"So you don't think she can protect herself?"
"Don't put words in my mouth Tessa."
"I'm not!"
"Well, isn't it lively in here?" Another female's voice struck their ears, the young couple going frozen as the Australian girl shot up, a dumb smile smacked across her face.
Pigtails tied up with such fierceness, a business bodycon suit that most would kill for with that snatched waist, and heels so sharp it could cut anyone's words who dared to pass a woman with a strong aura like hers.
"Jaqueline?" Vivianne murmured, horror falling over both her and N, who seemed as though he had just seen a ghost.
Tessa jumped into the mysterious woman's arms, twirling around a few times before setting her feet back onto the floor. She pulled her in by the chin and connected their lips for a moment, N's jaw going slack.
The change in the atmosphere was immediate, the elder brother's instincts wanting to pull his sister away from someone who was known for being a big bully in high school, and even getting a few kids who had done nothing wrong expelled. All because she didn't like them—he himself being one of these victims. Thanks to a rather generous donation from his family though, it never came to that.
Still, the memories haunt him.
The names call him.
And seeing his sibling so happy with someone like that made him want to vomit.
'Fuck.'
"N, been a while." The pigtailed woman greeted awkwardly, not even noting how she too was using his nickname like they were all buddy-buddy. He clenched his hands into fists, shooting daggers through her skull.
"Jaqueline." He spoke, "Tessa, does mom and dad know about you two?"
"What do you think? They'd kill me if they found out."
"So then why is she here?" Vivianne stood her ground, straightening her posture. She'd never met the woman herself but knew from her body language alone she wasn't there to make friends. There was a reason.
She'd heard from N how horrible she could be, how manipulative her words were enough to cause some serious issues.
"I'm a contractor for the Elliot's now." Jaqueline shrugged, lifting her hand to check her nails before setting them onto her hips again. "Also, that was awfully rude. N, who the hell is this chick?"
He grit his teeth and bit back a swear, if he could have it his way, N wouldn't have shown up at all. He was starting to doubt tonight would go perfectly if he and his sister were already having it out. "That 'chick' is my girlfriend. Watch yourself."
"Oh, feisty! The wittiness is new, finally decide to grow a pair?"
"What did you just say you little bi—"
"J! Don't antagonize him! And N, please don't insult my girlfriend like that." Tessa scolded, brows furrowing. "I know the past hasn't been all that great, but we can all act civil and get along for ONE dinner."
Finally, his nerves hit him like a freight train and he shot up, Vivianne's eyes never leaving his figure. She'd never seen him so…afraid, like he was trying to hold back everything inside before it all came splurging out. Light sweat draped along his forehead, lips closed so tight they might as well be glued shut, and his eyes filled with a world of hurt.
This went too far.
"Please excuse us, I'm a little hot so I think I'd like to get some fresh air." She blurted, reaching out for her significant others hand. "Nickoli, think you can take me to a balcony or something?"
He narrowed his eyes, confused, before realizing what she was trying to do. "Oh—yes! Tessa, call us when dinner is ready? Please?"
"Right…will do then. You two take your time." His sister's voice was soft, if he had known any better maybe even filled with a little regret.
The night had only begun, and it was already going so VERY wrong.