Heyo, ma name's Kat (she/him) I'm a writer and lover of whump, horror, and all things queer 'n uncanny!
(Also on Bluesky) (pfp artwork)
My favourite tropes are things like: mind control, drugging, kidnapping, captivity, body horror, and psychological whump. Also love a bit of unreality, Lovecraftian, and existential horror.
Also while nsfw content isn’t a frequent occurrence on this blog, this is still a space for adult themes and I may occasionally reblog stuff that is outright horny or explicit, hence the 18+ warning. For the most part I’ll trust folks to self manage their content but if you decide to interact with me and I click on your blog and find you’re a minor, I’m afraid that is a block from me for my own comfort. Adult content will be tagged as needed (I am kinda bad at remembering to tag tho so please feel free to let me know if you think I’ve made a mistake/forgotten something) and anything vaguely horny will be tagged #ba-hump
Always open to asks! Unsure of what to say? Ask me what game I'm playing at the moment, or what songs I have on repeat, or something about my OC's (you can find links to posts with general info about them below)!
Masterlist of playlists I've made
Get to know my OC's
Ollie and Jeremy - a supernatural Caretaker and Whumpee duo
Dr. Valerie Hemlocke - a (technically not a Doctor) scientist Whumper
(I have more but their 'get to know me' posts are pending)
Keep reading for links to my writing
World of Arethia
My first WIP: A fantasy series that takes place in a world of my own creation
(I promise I'll write an actual chapter one eventually! Sometime someday I swear I promise! The brain worms have just been elsewhere unfortunately)
Introductory lore post
Augusnippets 2024 Masterlist (chapters are non chronological)
The Star and the Darkness
Rare Bookseller fanfiction crossover masterlist - A self indulgent crossover. Features mind control whump, deception, mystery, plot twists, and a tasteful smattering of blood and gore <3
One-offs
In Darkness - A short story of Lovecraftian horror style hypnosis (completely unrelated to Star and the Darkness btw, just poor planning means similar names lmao)
Here Boy - A little hero whump mind control request
Please Look at Me - A prompt about a caretaker with mind-control powers
The Problem with Torture: Part 1 - A little conversation between an interrogator and her charge
didn't wanna add my whump ramblings to this post where OP could be potentially weirded out by it but this post is sooo good.
but i can't help but think: what if it's a live, distressed fairy instead?
the fairy is actively fighting to keep themself awake and wading so they don't drown, fighting for their life inside the bottle
maybe the shelf is full of bottles of drowned fairies, and this one is supposed to be dead, but they just managed to last longer than is normal. most don't make it to the shelf alive
the bottle could be purchased by a caretaker who spends way more than they were expecting to when they woke up this morning, gets the terrified, exhausted, drunk fairy out, and cares for them
or, the bottle could be purchased by a whumper intrigued by this singular bottle with a live fairy, who could do any number of things after, now that the helpless fairy's all theirs
even if it's whumper, the fairy is just grateful to be transferred from a prison where they're fighting an inevitable death by drowning and will die if they fall asleep, to a prison where they can at least rest
maybe it's purchased by both, a couple who are about to learn quite a lot about their partner's levels of compassion for the non-human
your post about the hero enjoying mind control got posted to pinterest and surpassed the target audience. this person's response is frying me they got clowned on so hard
clearly theyve never seen anything this site has to offer
fascinating response. I'm curious what they think ethically about people writing villains?? I feel like my post was phrased in a way that makes it obvious I'm just playing toys here.
anyway reblog if you enjoy expressing monstrously evil desires on the public internet
I wanna hit Lex with a 12 and then a 10, see how he likes them turned tables <3
~ @ba-bhump
Alexander totally deserves it! I decided to set this in the 90s AU for no particular reason.
Rare Bookseller Side Stories
tw: drugging, kidnapping
June 1998
If Lex hadn't already experienced his own personal hell, long ago when he was under the thumb of his sire, he would be certain that this electronics store was designed specifically to torture him. It stank of plastic and ozone and was filled with humans jostling down the narrow aisles, eager for glimpses of commodities that he barely understood. He would have never stepped foot in this place if it weren't for his beloved Fitz's insatiable need for the new and the novel.
"Excuse me, sir? Can I help you?"
Lex found himself face to face with a friendly young man in a blue polo shirt, barely in his twenties, one of the employees here. While normally he tried to avoid conversing with humans, he was willing to do anything to get out of this place faster. He glanced down at the name tag -- Brian. Brian's scent was deep and rich, a pleasant distraction from an unpleasant task.
"I'm looking for a birthday present for… someone very particular," Lex said. "He wants a certain video game machine. A Play… something."
"A Playstation?" Brian prodded gently.
"Yes, a Playstation," he said, relieved that he had managed to get his intentions across.
"You're in the wrong place for that -- this is the PC department. Follow me and I'll show you where the Playstations are."
Lex's relief that this human was willing to help was squelched when he realized that the video game department was loud, colorful, and irritating. Brian unlocked a case, handing a large box to Lex.
"Here's your Playstation! Will you be purchasing any games for it?"
"Yes."
They stood there in silence, facing each other, until Lex realized that he was probably meant to elaborate on that statement.
"Do you have any idea of what games your…"
"Husband."
Brian looked a bit surprised, but took that in stride. "Do you have any idea of what games he likes?"
"Loud games, that make tinny noises."
Even Lex could realize that he was being patronized as Brian smiled and nodded. Lex had a fleeting thought of putting him under, of seeing what he would look like when he was rendered obedient…
No, he couldn't do that. He was here for Fitz's birthday present.
…And wouldn't a brand new and appealing thrall make an even better birthday present than a Play-whatever?
"I might need a little bit more information to go on than that," said Brian.
"Do you like video games?"
"Oh, yes, that's why I took this job in the first place. I get an employee discount on all games and software."
Lex smiled. Finally, something in this place that was worth acquiring. This Brian was an enticing meal, he had an obviously subservient nature, and he could play games with Fitz, so that Fitz stopped badgering Lex to try them.
"What games do you like playing, Brian?"
"I can show you my favorite game at the moment," said Brian, perking up at the request. He led Lex over to a display of flat cases. "It's called Final Fantasy VII, and it's an incredibly immersive adventure. Some people are even calling it the greatest game ever made. The music is incredible, and the story and characters really pull me in. If your husband knows anything about video games, he's probably wanted to play this one."
"I'll take it," said Lex, who had zoned out through most of that explanation. "Is there anything else I should get?"
"Oh, you'll definitely need a memory card. Maybe two. And a second controller is always a good idea. Let me show you…"
Brian eagerly piled Lex high with a stack of items. He clearly saw Lex as someone with money to spend and no idea of what he was doing, which was both accurate and fine with Lex. Fitz would love being spoiled with a mountain of games, and he was definitely going to love having Brian entranced and kneeling at his feet.
"Would you mind helping me carry these out?" asked Lex, feigning trouble with all of the bags. "They're a bit heavy."
"Oh, of course!" Brian already seemed willing to do anything for Lex, probably because he was going to get a nice commission from everything he'd just sold. He took the bags from Lex and walked out of the store into the dimly lit parking lot. "Where is your car?"
"I think I parked over here," said Lex, leading Brian away from the store and into a lonely corner of the lot. Lex didn't have a car, of course -- he'd never felt comfortable with them, and Fitz would drive him if he really needed it. Brian, of course, had no way of knowing that. Just as the two walked into the shadow under a broken street lamp, and Lex was preparing to seal the lad's fate…
Lex was sure he felt eyes on him, as if he were the one being stalked.
"Is everything okay?" asked Brian, looking back at Lex, who had stopped dead, trying to figure out what he was sensing.
"Everything's fine," said Lex -- or at least everything would be fine in a moment. Even if it was a hunter, hunters had posed little threat to Lex in decades, falling easily under his sway. He began to hum.
Something sharp and painful hit him in the neck.
Lex pulled it out -- a dart with a red feather on its tail. A tranquilizer dart? That sort of thing usually took an inordinately high dose to work on a vampire. Did his assailant even realize that Lex was a vampire? If they didn't, why would they be trying to capture him? All of these thoughts ran through Lex's head rapid-fire. He certainly didn't feel tranquilized, not yet.
"What the hell?" Brian dropped the bags, hiding behind a parked car.
Well, the time for pretense was over now. Lex began to sing more forcefully, a song of sleep and submission, one guaranteed to subdue whoever was listening.
It only took one note for him to realize that his voice didn't sound right. It lacked the timbre it usually had, less deep and melodic, devoid of its power. He tried again, louder this time, which only made his voice sound strained. There was no hypnosis in it. Whatever was in the dart had altered his voice, robbed him of his weapon and his shield.
Someone not only knew who he was, but exactly how to counter him. Lex felt a cold pit of dread forming inside him, something he hadn't had to feel in a very long time.
Before he could make the decision to run or stand and fight, a handful of people emerged from the shadows. They were dressed entirely in black, with equipment strapped to their waists and backs. Modern hunters, he supposed.
Lex's strength and speed, while much greater than that of the average human, was substandard for a vampire. He'd have no issue escaping from a single hunter, but five humans with special training? He didn't like his odds, not without his voice.
Was he going to die here?
It had been so long since he'd genuinely wished for death. He thought of Fitz and his thralls at home. He hadn't told anyone where he was going, since it was meant to be a birthday surprise for Fitz. If he were reduced to dust in the parking lot of an electronics store, no one would ever know what became of him. How long would they hope that he was coming home? No, he didn't want to die here.
If only he had his voice, he could put them all to sleep with a few choice notes, and be free of this place!
The only sensible option he had, given the odds, was to run, and he knew he had to try it soon, before the hunters made their next move. He steeled himself and dashed towards the most promising gap in their lineup, only for the hunters to close in on him and tackle him to the ground. One of them blew something in his face, a strange powder that felt thick and heavy and smelled sharp. He didn't need to breathe, so he could avoid breathing any of it, but it was still on his skin, in his eyes -- his eyes, which now felt strange and heavy.
He struggled against the hunters' grasp, the gloomy parking lot spinning around him as a deep weakness settled into his bones. Whatever the hunter had just used on him, it was potent, like an inescapable fog settling into his mind.
One of the hunters grabbed his chin and forced him to look into her face. "Vampire," she said with a grin. "How are you feeling now?"
"I -- um --" He searched for his words, some defiant retort or threat, but his thoughts were submerged, slipping through his grasp as he tried to hold onto them.
"Do you like that? A taste of your own medicine."
A taste of his own…? What did that mean? It was bad, he knew that, but that was as far as his mind could go. He couldn't escape, couldn't pull free of the hunters.
"I don't -- I don't want to die," he said, voicing the only thought that was clear in his head. He must have sounded pathetic, but it was far too late to worry about that. "Please don't kill me. I don't want to die."
"You're already dead," one of the other hunters scoffed. "How many people have you killed or enthralled that were begging for their lives just like you are? You deserve this."
Alexander shuddered. Maybe he did. He couldn't articulate a rebuttal.
"We're not going to kill you. That would be too easy for something like you," said the first hunter, yanking Alexander's hair to force his face closer. "How does it feel to be helpless and at someone else's mercy? Do you like it?"
There was a brief flash of a memory from long, long ago, back when he was human and defenseless, back when his days were nothing but suffering and misery. He couldn't think of exactly what that was, but he knew that he didn't want to go back there. He'd rather die. A whimper escaped his lips. "No, I don't like it."
Her hand twisted in his hair. "Say 'no, sir'."
"No, sir!"
"There you go. Was that so hard?" she said. "I have good news for you, bloodsucker: we're not going to kill you. An old vampire like you, rendered helpless? You're worth a lot to the right buyer."
"No -- no, please -- "
"Quiet," she said, pressing a finger against his lips. He nodded, unable to do anything but obey.
"That's some kind of miracle potion," said a voice behind Alexander. "Look at him, doing everything you say."
"Isn't it great?" she said, her grin spreading wider. "You're going to be quiet and docile, just like the thralls you vampires love to make, and you're going to come with us, where we have a special cage just for you." She pulled his face even closer. "And you're never going to enthrall a human or drink blood ever again."
Alexander could do nothing but quail at her remarks. The nightmare he thought he'd escaped was coming back for him again, and there was nothing he could do about it, his mind nothing but terror and forced subservience. What kind of person would want a chained vampire? Surely no one who intended to treat him well.
"Follow," she said, snapping her fingers, as the rest of the hunters hauled Alexander to his feet and began to half-drag, half-lead him towards a black van parked in the shadows. He could feel it deep in his bones, the conviction that once he entered that van, he would never return to his familiar life. He tried to dig in his heels, but it was a feeble effort at best, drugged as he was. The hunters only redoubled their efforts, practically tossing him into the back, where his head hit the cold metal.
"Careful, don't damage him," said one of the hunters.
"He's a vampire, he's not going to get damaged from that," scoffed another. "Let's make sure he behaves for the ride." A hunter loomed above him, pressing his hand down on Lex's chest and stabbing another dart into his neck. The world began to fade away as the hunters laughed.
Janet was so exhausted that it took her four tries to successfully swipe her card in front of the sensor of the parking garage. It was two in the morning, a particularly late night in what had been a month of late nights, and she knew she was only getting a few hours of sleep before she would have to return to the office. She had debated with herself if it would even be worth it to go home, or if she should just sleep in her chair again, but the thought of her bed was like a siren song. It was probably irresponsible to drive home in this state, but she couldn't bring herself to care.
She parked crookedly in her designated spot, putting her heels back on and picking up her briefcase. This misery would all be worth it when her team delivered the weapons system on time. It had to be worth it. She'd finally get promoted to upper management, and then she'd be the one imposing the ridiculous deadlines. That thought gave her enough energy to exit her car and make her way unsteadily towards the elevator bank. It wouldn't be long now until she could collapse in her bed for a few precious hours.
Just as she approached the elevators, the doors opened, and a woman in a suit stepped out. It was strange that she was dressed for the office and heading out at this time of night, but Janet supposed she couldn't judge, given the circumstances. As she passed, the woman pulled out what looked like a small bottle of hand sanitizer, and sprayed Janet right in the face.
"What the fuck?" Janet spluttered. It didn't smell like hand sanitizer. It smelled sickly sweet, and as she tried to wipe it off, she realized it was sticky. The smell was incredibly strong, and as she turned to get answers from the woman, her head began to spin, almost making her lose her balance. "Hey, where'd you go? What is this? What --"
Someone strong grabbed her from behind and pressed a cloth firmly over her mouth and nose, muffling her scream. The sweet chemical smell was even stronger now, and she belatedly realized the danger she was in. She was being kidnapped -- for ransom, perhaps? If that was what they wanted, they wouldn't get it. Her employers wouldn't pay for her safety, and no one else cared if she lived or died.
Frantic, she reached up and tried to pry the hand off of her face, but it was strong, almost unnaturally strong, and she couldn't get the arm to budge an inch. Worse still, she was already starting to feel woozy and disoriented, the parking garage spinning slowly around her.
"Don't worry," said a soft voice in her ear, the voice of her kidnapper. "Be a good girl. Stay still and take nice, deep breaths. This is just going to put you to sleep."
Like hell she was going to stay still. She did her best to hold her breath as she kicked and struggled, but her fight wasn't making a bit of difference, and her lungs were starting to burn. She had no choice but to choke down a chemical-laden breath, and another.
"That's right. Take a few more deep breaths," the voice coaxed. "You're going to start feeling drowsy soon."
Janet protested uselessly through the cloth. She was still scrambling to pull the hand with the cloth from her face, but her arms were starting to feel heavy and clumsy, her efforts growing more feeble. Her legs were feeling heavy, too.
"Aren't you tired? You're feeling a little sleepy, aren't you? Don't fight it. You need the sleep."
A wave of drowsiness washed over her. She really was feeling sleepy, and she realized that she didn't have much time left to get free. She shook her head, trying to get a breath without being drugged to help her stay awake, but her kidnapper held firm.
"It's working, isn't it?" the voice cooed in her ear. "It's putting you to sleep, and it feels too good to fight. There's nothing you can do. Just relax for me."
The voice was right. Even through her panic, whatever was on the cloth was making her feel strangely good. Her hands finally slipped off of the kidnapper's arm, falling uselessly to her side, heavy as lead. She hadn't managed to get the cloth off her face, and everything smelled like chemical tang. Her eyelids drooped.
"That's it. That's a good girl." Her kidnapper's voice was strangely soothing. "No more fighting, now. You're too drowsy to fight. Just take a few more deep breaths and get very sleepy."
Her vision blurred, her eyelids fluttering, as she sagged into her kidnapper's arms. The cloth was lifted briefly, and she gulped down a breath of fresh air, only to have a fresh cloth firmly tied around her mouth and nose, knotted behind her head. It smelled like sleep.
Her knees wobbled, and before she could hit the ground, the kidnapper swept her off her feet and into their arms, picking her up bridal style. She blinked, trying to keep her eyes open and get a good look at them, but their their features shifted and blurred.
"Good girl. Stay loose and limp, just like this," they said as they started to carry her off. "No more struggling. Don't fight that urge to sleep."
She was doing everything she could to stay awake, hoping that she would at least be able to remember something about the experience, but by this point she could barely keep her eyes open. She was only just aware enough to register that she was being placed in the back seat of a van.
A hand caressed her hair gently. "No reason to stay awake now. Just shut your eyes and go to sleep. You're not going to remember any of this anyway."
The van door slid shut and the motor started. She was being taken somewhere. She thought, dimly, that she should try to stay awake and figure out the route.
That was futile, though. She was no match against the sleep-inducing chemical that still filled her nose and mouth, and the sound of the engine was like a lullaby. Her eyelids sank close against her will. The people in the van were saying something, but she couldn't make it out. Her mind drifted away into fog.
Masterlist
Thanks for reading another self-indulgent story about being kidnapped, drugged, and brainwashed.
A couple scenes from a little gay vampire story I was kicking around a couple years ago! I sometimes do little pencils-only scenes for things and never post them. But I was looking back at these and was like why not? They're cute!
I have a whole story for these two, but just for funsies, something to do every now and then when I need to let loose.
As human-led soil erosion creates more barren landscapes, invasive species like the Trapdoor Plant (Nepenthes decipula) are on the rise.
These carnivorous plants take hold in depleted topsoil, growing into large underground chambers filled with digestive fluid. As unsuspecting animals walk on them, a camouflaged leaf quickly moves out of the way to let them fall inside. Its slick interior, barbed edge, and the fast-acting acid make escape highly unlikely.
While most are smaller, some have been known to grow large enough to capture full-grown humans.
Whumper keeps Whumpee in an excessive amount of restraints (can’t move an inch for chains, collared, muzzled) to ensure that they won’t break out - even if Whumpee is completely cooperative
Whumpee who does fight back, who bites, claws, scratches, does everything they can to cause as much damage to Whumper as possible
Whumper who “has to” keep Whumpee constantly sedated
Whumpee is a danger to themself, intentionally or not, so Whumper has to protect them before they fatally injure themselves
Nonhuman Whumpee is percieved as dangerous and muzzled/shock collared before they can plead their case, if they even can
Caretaker who is scared of Whumpee!
Stranger Caretaker arriving to rescue Whumpee after defeating Whumper but hesitating when they realise who or what Whumpee is
Whumpee’s hope turning to dread as they see this, and silently begging for mercy
Whumpee who lashes out at Caretaker, who hurts then one day, and guilt hits them at full force
Whumpee who believes they’re a danger to Caretaker and takes it upon themself to remove themself from the equation
Caretsker who flinches when Whumpee moves suddenly
Whumpee wakes up after being rescued, filled with relief - only when they try to move they notice the chains, and the muzzle
Or Whumpee wakes up in a hospital but is restrained to the bed “for their own safety”
Whumpee is a living weapon or villain and everyone is scared of them - except Caretaker’s child
Whumpee who tries to be gentle and unassuming to win the favour of those around them
hey are there any fellow writers/mutuals around here who’d be interested in trying out like a parallel productivity thing? Can’t remember if that’s the right name but it’s a thing where you sit in a voice call with someone, and there’s no obligation to talk unless you want to, you just tell each other what you’re working on and then that applies some gentle pressure to accomplish the thing you wanna do for like an hour or two, in my case a word count. I ask cos I’m totally not feeling behind and struggling with productivity nahhhh, it’s mostly an excuse to hang out and maybe exchange things we’re working on for feedback. It might be a little tricky to schedule, my day job hours are a bit irregular, but shoot me a message if that sounds like something you wanna try!
Benjamin felt like a bull in a china shop among the narrow aisles of the antique bookstore, more than once knocking books to the floor and mumbling an apology as he put them back.
"Sorry the place is so cramped," said Oliver sheepishly. "I can't get bear to get rid of any of the books I acquire, even the ones that aren't selling."
"I can understand that. I'm something of an avid reader myself. Nothing so sophisticated as old classics, though. Pulps, mostly."
"I enjoy those myself from time to time," said Oliver with a gentle smile.
This bookseller was a nice person, but like most ordinary folk, he was horrifically naive when it came to the supernatural. As best as Benjamin could tell, he'd had a vampire frequenting his shop for ages, probably working over his mind and preparing him for servitude, and he hadn't even realized it. If he hadn't gone seeking a vampire hunter, he probably would have been snatched up and sold on the auction, or stolen away to his patron's vile manor to live in servitude.
There weren't many hunters in the city who weren't just in the trade for the hopes of striking it rich by staking some wealthy ancient vampire. In fact, there weren't many hunters in the city at all, because the bulk of them had been wiped out years ago by a particularly nasty vampire, one that was still spoken of in hushed tones. Oliver was lucky that he was able to enlist the services of a hunter that still considered it his duty to protect the innocent. It was what got Benjamin out of bed in the morning, what kept him going in his often thankless task.
"The sun's almost set," he said, gazing out the window. "Once it's twilight, I'm going to start patrolling and keeping an eye on things. You should go back to your quarters -- the vampires can't get inside unless you invite them, you know." He slammed his hands on the counter with more force than he intended, startling Oliver. "That's why you should never invite someone into your home unless you're absolutely certain they aren't a monster."
"I'll keep that in mind," said Oliver meekly.
"Good."
An awkward silence stretched between them as the orange sunlight streaming through the front window was slowly extinguished. "Do you… really think you'd need to kill Alexander?" he asked.
Benjamin sighed, trying to be patient. This poor man was already half-charmed by a vampire. "As I said before, if he's a vampire, I'll need to kill him. Vampires aren't capable of anything other than preying on humans."
"There aren't any vampires who are… I don't know, decent?" asked Oliver. "Not a single one that's friendly, or at least not trying to hurt anyone?"
"Oh, plenty of vampires are friendly. Much too friendly. That's how they draw you in and get you under their spell," he said. "But they don't have true feelings and they're incapable of doing good, except if it directly benefits them. Their very nature drives them to control and feed from humans." He stared down Oliver. "You may have thought this Alexander was your friend, but that was just a trick he was playing on you. He doesn't care about you any more than you care about a particularly tasty sandwich."
"…I suppose you might be right." Oliver was clearly struggling with this idea, which was more evidence that he had been under the vampire's spell. Thankfully for him, it would gradually evaporate when the foul beast was killed.
Sunset arrived, and Benjamin left the bookshop to patrol. It was imperative that he spotted the vampire before the vampire spotted him. His speed was his greatest asset as a hunter, along with his well-honed strength. An ambush was the safest way to dispatch a vampire. A protracted battle was risky, as the vampire would have a chance to use whatever unusual magic they carried. Becoming cornered by the vampire was even worse, because then the vampire might use its mesmeric powers, which was a particular weakness for Benjamin. He'd often had to be snapped out of a trance by his partner --
His partner, who had been turned months ago. The memory of her screaming face as she was dragged away still haunted him. He hadn't been fast enough, and even though he'd scoured the entire area where she had been taken, he had been too late.
Benjamin shook it from his mind. He needed to be clear-headed for his task. He suspected that this Alexander must not be a very powerful vampire, if he was carefully charming a man like Oliver over the course of months instead of simply taking his prey, but he never wanted to take chances when it came to fighting monsters.
The unknown vampire or vampires who had been trying to steal Oliver away for the auction were another matter, though. That could be anything from a fledgling hoping for a payday to a seasoned vampire scooping up the most valuable blood in the city.
It wasn't long until that vampire appeared. She was a mockery of what used to be a woman, dressed in a finely tailored suit with her hair pulled back in a severe bun. She went right up to the bookshop's door and rattled the handle, all too confident in her ability to subdue her prey. She hadn't seemed to notice Benjamin, who slid into the alleyway when he saw her approach, feigning that he was a vagrant trying to rest there.
As he suspected, the vampire grew impatient and broke the door's lock, letting herself into the shop. Oliver, of course, had locked himself away in the apartment above the shop, a place where she could not enter without his permission. That didn't mean he was perfectly safe. There were all sorts of tricks a clever vampire could do to lead a human out. This one wouldn't be given the chance.
Benjamin exited the alleyway and sprinted into the cramped bookshop, where the vampire had been standing, looking at the stairway leading up to the apartment. He drew his weapon and lunged at her. She shrieked and threw him off, and he only grazed her with his stake, smashing into a bookcase. It was a mistake, but whether it was a fatal one would depend largely on her fighting ability and powers.
"Freeze," the vampire said, snapping her fingers, and every muscle in Benjamin's body went rigid and still.
If Benjamin could have moved, he would have smiled to himself. It was a formidable power, but it only affected his body, not his mind -- and vampires always underestimated his physical training.
"Well, aren't you just adorable?" the vampire said, approaching him with a sadistic smile. "Your blood isn't as fine as the bookshop owner's, of course, but the scent has a certain something to it, and you might appeal in other --"
His hand shot forward, and she crumbled to dust.
Benjamin patiently waited for the rest of her little spell to wear off, having concentrated all of his strength and willpower into moving his right arm for the kill. When the last of the dust hit the floor, he gained his feeling back, rolling his shoulders. One vile creature down, and hopefully only one more to go.
It didn't take that long until his next target came into view -- a man who matched Oliver's description of Alexander exactly. His clothes were nondescript and he passed for a human better than the vampire that Benjamin had just dispatched. He had a look of melancholy on his face, but walked with a strange confidence, and Benjamin could sense his vampiric aura.
He felt strong, stronger than Benjamin had anticipated. Benjamin's grip on his stake tightened as he hid in the alleyway. He didn't want to be like the vampire he'd just killed, too overconfident in his advantage. This Alexander had the feel of an old vampire, a dangerous one.
Though why an old vampire would choose to stalk Oliver in this particular way was beyond him. A mockery of a courtship, perhaps. The older and further removed from humanity a vampire became, the more difficult it was to understand their motivations -- apart from blood. It would always come down to blood.
Alexander approached the bookshop, and when he noticed the lock was broken and the front door was swinging open, he seemed alarmed, no doubt from the reasonable fear that another vampire had stolen his prey. He ran into the bookshop, calling for Oliver.
Alexander was distracted. This might be the only good chance Benjamin had before Alexander decided to take Oliver himself. He crept to the bookstore entrance, preparing himself to ambush Alexander, when the vampire began to sing.
Benjamin had never heard a more beautiful sound in his life.
He stood by the doorway, his mission forgotten in an instant, as the music washed over him and through him. His stress and tension drained away, replaced with a brand new clarity of purpose. The vampire was beckoning him forward, and that was what he had wanted, wasn't it? To confront the vampire? To draw closer to the vampire so that he could…
He stepped into the shadows of the bookshop, where the vampire was standing near the stairs to Oliver's apartment, serenading him. Benjamin stumbled forward, his movements feeling clumsy and uncouth next to the -- the vampire -- the vile monster --
No, he couldn't bring himself to call a creature that made such a divine song a monster. This vampire was something far more. Benjamin felt blessed with a greater understanding, a clarity of purpose. The more he listened to Alexander's song, the more he could see that this vampire, above all others, was noble and worthy, worthy of service.
He was in danger. A fleeting image of his partner's face went through his mind, trying to wake him, but then slipped away just as quickly. He wanted to reassure her, tell her that he wasn't in danger this time. Tell her that he'd discovered something truly wonderful.
Benjamin stepped forward without fear or hesitation and knelt before the beautiful vampire, offering his body, his mind, and his life. It was so natural, as natural as all of his training.
His heart felt like it might break in two when the glorious song came to an abrupt halt. "Who are you?" asked Alexander, his confusion unbecoming of one so handsome.
"My name is Benjamin Winters," he said, bowing his head, "and I wish to serve you in any way possible."
Alexander seemed stunned, but recovered quickly. "You were listening to my song, weren't you?"
"Yes," said Benjamin simply, because words alone could not convey what he had felt upon hearing the vampire's song.
Alexander looked down at him and began to sing again, this time a song of service and obedience, and Benjamin felt as though his heart would burst. The vampire saw fit to sing of service to him, finding him worthy, and there was nothing more that Benjamin wanted to do than be of some use. His place kneeling at the vampire's feet felt right. Why hadn't he realized all along that this was what he was meant to do? Was it because he had not yet encountered a vampire so worthy? Was this what his life's work truly had been, seeking out this vampire above all others, and he had simply been misguided when he believed he was a hunter?
"You seem very taken with my music," said Alexander with a chuckle. "I don't think I've ever seen a person fall so deep under my spell with so little effort."
"Yes, sir, I'm extremely susceptible to vampire mind manipulation techniques!" Benjamin reported, hoping this would endear him to the vampire.
"…I can see that, yes. But it's odder still that you're aware of it." Alexander was looking him over closely, now. "You're a hunter?"
"Forgive me, but yes," said Benjamin. "I did not realize up until this moment that my real occupation was obedience to a deserving vampire. My partner used to shield me from the mental effects of vampires, until she was turned herself, some months ago."
"It was unwise of you to go hunting without her," Alexander observed, "because it only took a bit of my song to have you change your mind about your entire life."
"Your song was so filled with the truth that it only took that small amount for me to understand."
"…Oh dear. You poor thing." Alexander seemed amused, pitying, and Benjamin felt like he didn't quite understand why. "Stand up and let me have a look at you."
"Yes, sir." Benjamin stood immediately.
"Divest yourself of anything you could use to harm me."
"Understood." Benjamin tossed down his stake, removed his silver knife from his sheath and tossed that down as well, and then threw his satchel somewhere behind him.
Alexander came closer, hooking a finger under Benjamin's chin, looking in his eyes. "Is that all?"
"That's all," said Benjamin, helpless in his gaze.
Alexander was looking him over closely now. "Not exactly what I've been seeking, but…" he murmured to himself. "Your blood is interesting." He leaned in closer to Benjamin's neck, taking in the scent, and Benjamin felt overwhelmed by the desire for the vampire to feed.
"Please let me offer my blood to you," he said with a desperation that could be considered unseemly.
"Now is not the right time for that, but I do think I will -- allow you to offer your blood to me, that is," said Alexander with a smile. "I've been so wary of taking a thrall, but your susceptibility to my voice is certainly unique. You'd be lost without it, wouldn't you?"
"Utterly lost," Benjamin confirmed.
"Then it's settled." Alexander looked pleased with himself and with Benjamin, and Benjamin basked in the feeling. "This might be advantageous. With a second thrall in my possession, it might take some of my sire's attention from Oliver. Or perhaps I could have you… well. I'll have to be sure of your abilities before I try and set you on my sire." Alexander sighed. "Hunter or not, you don't deserve the fate of being at his mercy. I'm sorry for that."
"There's nothing to apologize for," said Benjamin, not understanding why Alexander looked upset. "I'm happy to serve you in any way I can."
"That's unfortunate for you," said Alexander darkly. "I do have an important task for you now. Listen carefully…"
Oliver sat in his bed with his arms wrapped around his knees, dozing lightly, exhausted but trying to keep himself awake.
He'd heard a scuffle from downstairs, one which he'd hoped that Benjamin would win, assuming it was his vampire stalker. Then there was quiet, and then… he was pretty sure he had fallen asleep for a while, because he vaguely remembered dreaming about a beautiful melody, one which made him feel a strange longing he couldn't explain. When he'd woken up, it was deathly silent again.
He had perhaps incorrectly assumed that Benjamin would come to tell him when the vampire -- or vampires -- had been successfully slain, but almost an hour went by, and there was only quiet. Had Benjamin completed his duty and left without saying a word, or had he failed and been killed or taken by a vampire? If a seasoned vampire hunter couldn't save himself from the monsters that stalked Oliver, then Oliver himself certainly had no hope.
So he waited anxiously, reminding himself that vampires couldn't enter his home without his permission, but not wanting to fall asleep anyway. He would be safe when the sun came up, and he could assess his options then. Of course, if Benjamin had indeed failed, he'd never be able to leave his apartment again at night. It might be sensible to leave the city entirely, but he couldn't do that without abandoning his bookshop as well, which he was not willing to do. Although, if it were truly a life or death situation…?
His musings were interrupted by the doorknob rattling. Someone was trying to enter his sanctuary. Vampires were not supposed to be able to enter his home without his permission, but what if that was just a legend and not actually true? Even if it was true, what if the vampire had other means to get him out of the apartment? Oliver picked up a kitchen knife, lacking other tools to defend himself, wishing that he had asked Benjamin for a stake, at least. His hands shook as he stood against the wall, listening to what sounded like his lock being picked.
The apartment door finally creaked open, and it wasn't a vampire who had intruded on his home, but Benjamin, with a wide grin on his face. His expression alone was enough to tip off Oliver that something was wrong, and he raised his knife, even as he doubted he'd be able to bring himself to actually stab someone.
"Good news, Oliver!" said Benjamin in an all too chipper tone of voice, a far cry from the deathly seriousness. "I was completely wrong about the vampires, and especially about your friend, Alexander. It turns out that he really does have your best interest at heart -- and mine as well."
"Oh god." Oliver's hand was shaking uncontrollably. "He really is a vampire. He's a vampire, and he put you under his spell."
"That's right, and it's more wonderful than I ever could have imagined," said Benjamin with all the fervor of a religious convert. "I've never felt so at peace with myself. All those years I had been struggling and miserable, convincing myself that it was all worth it because I was doing good in the world." He stepped towards Oliver, who shrank back against the wall. "If only I had realized how fulfilling it is to submit to a vampire!"
Oliver's mouth felt dry with panic. "Don't you remember that you're a hunter? Don't you remember what you just told me -- that vampires can't care about you? You've been hypnotized, and you need to snap out of it."
Benjamin's face grew more serious again. "I know I've been hypnotized," he said solemnly. "It was the only way to get me to accept this important truth about myself."
"What truth?"
"That my purpose is to serve a worthy vampire like Alexander." He held out a hand to Oliver. "It's your purpose, too. That's why he asked me to come and retrieve you."
"I'm not going with you." Oliver tried to brandish the knife threateningly while pressing up against the wall as hard as he could. "This isn't what you actually believe. You're under a spell. You need to snap out of it right now!"
"It's all right if you don't understand yet," he said in a kind voice, as if coaxing a child. "You'll understand soon, I promise. Just put down the knife and we can talk about it."
"No, I won't," said Oliver. Benjamin was much larger than him and athletically trained, a man who routinely fought vampires. Oliver was all too aware that his shaky grasp on the knife was the only thing stopping Benjamin from tossing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and delivering him to the waiting vampire.
The vampire -- oh, god, Alexander. He really had been a vampire, and he had hypnotized a seasoned hunter into complete submission, and he must have had designs on Oliver all along. "What exactly does Alexander want with me?"
"To serve, just as I told you," Benjamin said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "To provide blood and company and to be useful."
"And that's what you want now? To provide blood for a vampire for the rest of your days?"
"Yes," said Benjamin with terrifying conviction.
Oliver swallowed hard. Here he was with nothing more than a kitchen knife to defend himself, with no real options other than to try lunging at Benjamin -- which would be unlikely to work, even if he could bring himself to do it. He could try to run past Benjamin, down the stairs, and even if he made it, he'd be running straight into the arms of the vampire. He could try to wait Benjamin out, but given the fervor in his eyes and the fact that his desires were not his own any more, Oliver felt his success was unlikely.
He glanced at the window. It was a heavy one that usually stuck. There was little chance he could wrench it open and jump out of it before he was caught. Still, a small chance was better than none at all. Oliver dashed for it, only to find himself grabbed around the waist by Benjamin, who moved all too quickly given his size. The knife was knocked from his grasp, and a strong hand was clamped over his mouth, muffling Oliver's shout.
"It's all right. Calm down," said Benjamin in his ear. "I'm not going to harm you. Just listen."
Oliver struggled fruitlessly. He would have protested if he could have, telling Benjamin that nothing would convince him to simply surrender. Benjamin was undeterred, dragging Oliver closer to the stairs, where he could hear soft but insistent music growing louder. He was unable to ask what it was, but it sounded somehow familiar, and he ceased struggling against Benjamin's hold for a moment so he could figure out why.
"Good. Just listen."
Benjamin's words snapped Oliver out of his daze momentarily, as he realized too late that the music was the vampire's spell, and it sounded familiar because it was Alexander's voice --
-- No, it sounded familiar in a deeper, more fundamental way, as if his mind was a sheep gone astray, and the song was guiding it back into its fold to rest.
His arms fell to his side, slack and heavy, as Alexander's voice beckoned to him, coaxing him gently but firmly into his control. Benjamin, satisfied with Oliver's acquiescence, loosened his grip, allowing Oliver to sway softly in time with the song, his mind drifting into a deep fog.
"What - what's happening to me?" Oliver murmured.
"It's wonderful, isn't it?"
Oliver nodded slowly. It was wonderful indeed. He could feel his mind curling up in its pen, preparing to go to sleep, as Alexander clicked the cage shut and locked it behind him.
"Come with me," said Benjamin, taking Oliver's hand and leading him down the stairs. "Your master is waiting for you."
"My… master…" Olive repeated in his haze, the fog thickening around his thoughts as he descended the stairs. The music was growing louder and more beautiful, and there, at the bottom of the steps, was Alexander. Some part of him still recognized Alexander as a favored patron of his bookshop, but that already felt like a lifetime ago. He could see now that Alexander was so much more than that.
"Come here," he said, drawing Oliver close, piercing blue eyes trapping Oliver's gaze. "I've wanted you for so long now."
"…Me?" said Oliver, flattered and bewildered.
"Yes, and not just because your blood is exquisite," Alexander said, stroking his cheek. "Your obedience is even more exquisite. If only you could see how you look right now."
"I feel so strange," he confessed.
"That's expected. It will take time to get used to this," said Alexander. "But you will get used to this, because this is where you belong." Alexander's touch on his face was frigid but oddly comforting, and Oliver leaned into it without thinking. "You're a natural, Oliver. You have nothing to fear from me. I'm going to take good care of you."
"But --" His enfeebled mind was trying to raise a protest. "But, my bookshop --"
"Will be well maintained," said Alexander. "I won't allow such a precious bookshop to fall into ruin. But you will come live with me, and you will serve."
Oliver nodded. There were other reasons he should protest this, he was sure, but it was so difficult to remember them when Alexander's gaze was scattering all of his thoughts.
"Let me show you how you will serve."
Alexander's hunger was growing, and Oliver couldn't question how keenly he could feel it. It seemed somehow right that he should feel his master's hunger. He instinctually tilted his head to the side, his eyes never leaving Alexander's.
"I've been longing for this," said Alexander, his gorgeous voice thick with desire. "You'll allow me to drink, won't you?"
"Yes," said Oliver with no hesitation. Offering up his blood to his master seemed like a necessity, like something he had to do to know peace.
"Good answer. You're doing so well." Alexander's praise felt warm inside of Oliver. "You won't feel any pain from this. It will feel like a sweet dream."
Oliver didn't move, his glassy eyes staring at one of his bookshelves without actually seeing it. Alexander grasped his shoulders and brushed a hand through his hair, a gesture that sent shivers down Oliver's spine. Those cold fingers brushed against his neck as well, and it was all Oliver could do to stop himself from swooning into the vampire's arms. He saw the glint of two small fangs, and then pinpricks piercing his skin, and then a sensation like sliding into a warm bath. He couldn't help but go limp and boneless against Alexander, his head resting on Alexander's sweater, his eyelids fluttering with sudden drowsiness. He could feel Alexander's pleasure at drinking his blood, biting back a moan.
"It's everything I had hoped for," said Alexander when he finally stopped drinking. "You can rest now, Oliver. You're so sleepy, aren't you? So tired."
"Yes…" Oliver yawned into Alexander's shoulder, utterly spent.
"That's right. Just sleep. Just shut those heavy eyes and sleep," Alexander hummed into his ear. "And when you wake up, you're going to be exactly where you need to be."
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This is the part I was looking forward to writing. Get enthralled, nerds.
