Cw : vampire au , caitvi , sfw , jinx/powder mentioned , vander mentioned , angsty asf , slowburn!! loads of other stuff
It had only been a few days. A few days of Violet waking up covered in bruises, feeling hungover even if she hadn't drank - though she probably did. She must have been overthinking it.
And maybe there was a few weeks of the eyes on her back, footsteps in the shadows, smoke in the darkness of every alley she passed. The was wary, holding her dagger close.
And maybe, just maybe, it had all started when she was at the bar late one night. Sitting across from her sister powder at the bar, working on reading a book or setting up her guitar for a gig at the last drop. She always seemed to be there, that woman looming in the back.
Vi didn't pay her much attention at first, not until she did. Not until this woman made her way to the front of the small stage in the corner of the large room, leaning on the wall and sipping her drink as Violet set up her guitar.
She didn't say anything, disappearing in the bathroom when Vi finally started playing; those cerulean eyes imprinted in her mind the whole night.
Safe to say, Powder was sick of Vi talking about this mystery woman while helping her close. Wiping down tables? blue eyes this, long legs that. God, just a glance and Vi was done for.
Tonight was different, the woman hadn't shown. Vi scratched away at her crossword puzzle, humming along to the song playing on the speaker while sipping her drink. Powder laughed with whoever was ordering, mixing something up how Vander taught her.
Tapping her pencil, the pinkish-red haired girl's mind wandered to her yet again, putting her head in her palm and taking another sip of her whiskey, her throat burning at the taste. At the rate she drank, it was a surprise there were no negative repercussions. She sighed, powder leaning against the counter and gazing at her sister.
"I don't think she's coming, Vi." She said, catching the pencil mid tap.
"Mm, cant a girl hope? I gotta help you lock up either way"
Vi had become far more protective after Vander died, making sure to help Pow close the last drop every night and walk her home even though Powder lived with her friends.
"You need rest. Head home early, i'll be okay, sis." She said, patting Vi's shoulder much like their father used to do. Vi's heart ached, pulling her sister into a hug across the bar before standing.
"Call me and i'll come back?"
"..love you, Pow" Vi sighed, standing with her bag and leather jacket and walking out of The Last Drop. Vi was always careful; it was how Vander trained her to be. Everyone in their family was careful, looking in the cracks because maybe the rumor weren't rumors.
Vi knew well enough by now they were true. Nearly every night she would see it, hear the muffled screams of her mother. Though she was just a kid when it happened, Vi knew what it was. Vampires had always haunted the Lanes.
She held her blade close, warm breath visible in the cold air, streets dimly lit with lanterns. Her combat boots clicked on the concrete, making the walk home as quick as possible.
As soon as the girl made it home, the door was shut and locked. Vi walked into the kitchen, opening the upper cabinet and only grabbing more whiskey. She poured a cup over ice, taking off her jacket and boots as the rain started outside.
It was cold inside, and no doubt even worse outside. Violet wrapped a blanket over her shoulders as she picked up some clean clothes fr her wooden dresser, finishing her drink and moving into the small bathroom to shower.
The hot water quickly covered the mirror in steam, the sound of the shower dripping blending with the rain and thunder outside. Vi stepped into the shower, the water turning her skin red, her woodsy pine shampoo coating the room.
Bubbles of soap covered her skin, the water stream rinsing most of them off before she stepped out, drying off. Her hands busied themselves, braiding the long red mullet she sported just to keep it out of the way for a while.
Pulling on ripped pajama pants and a black hoodie, Violet shut off the lights and brushed her teeth in the dark, curling up in bed with her journal.
She wrote about her sister, about Vander, about the sense of impending doom she constantly felt. Then, about the mystery girl. Most of the small little thoughts that crossed her mind that day, needing new shoelaces, small details she'd rather not forget as the night passed.
Vi closed the book, tucking it into her nightstand and shutting her eyes. Still cold despite being buried under the blanket, the girl slowly drifted off.
Vi groaned into the pillow, back positively aching. She sighed, pulling herself out of bed to medicate for the day. All of her prescriptions, ibuprofen, and a sip of tap water to wash them down.
Her shift at the pharmacy didn't start for another hour, so maybe it was time she ate a proper breakfast. A cup of coffee, 20 minutes, and an omelette later, Vi was brushing through her hair. The braid had left it the slightest bit damp and quite crimped, though she didn't mind the look of it.
Pulling on a uniform t-shirt over her hoodie, followed by her leather jacket and combat boots, Vi was mostly prepared. She filled a metal water bottle, slinging her bag over her shoulder and walking to work.
There was already a small bit of rain today, just a light fall that had Violet putting her hood up. She grabbed a sandwich from the deli near her job, tucking it into the bag to inevitably be crushed by the heavy bottle.
Walking inside, the automatic doors shut and wrapped Vi in a blanket of air-conditioner warmth. She put her bag under the counter, nodding at the attendant working beside her.
The shift was the same as always, relatively slow, but considering it was a small town there was nothing unusual. Taking her lunch, Vi sat behind the counter, chewing on the flattened sandwich and checking her phone. She texted powder, the store empty aside from her and the other attendant.
pow. all chill. your girls here early today.
pow. nah. she's sitting in the back with some dude
vi. alright. my shifts almost done. i'll be there after.
Vi shut her phone back off, tucking the other half of her sandwich away to give to powder before getting through the rest of her shift. The rest of the evening passed quickly, Vi walking through the rainy streets with her bag over her shoulder.
The Last Drop's open sign was glowing, and Vi walked inside. Her eyes nearly immediately fell on the woman sitting at the bar with a man a bit older than her, those blue eyes bored as her hands toyed with her glass.
Vi simply walked to her sister, not wanting to make it clear she was staring.
"Hey, Pow" she grinned, leaning on the counter as the bar was nearly vacant. Vi felt the woman's gaze on her, Powder smiling as she turned around.
"Hey. How was work?" She asked, putting her sisters favorite radio station on to echo through the building.
"Good." Pow said with a soft smirk, watching Vi pull her sketchbook out of the bag, along with the other half of her sandwich. Vi pushed it across the counter, Powder opening it and checking the contents before beginning to eat.
The woman's voice sounded near them, firm and with a beautiful accent. She spoke to the man beside her, sipping her drink.
"I dunno, Jayce, just ask for help?"
"Cait, you know its not that simple" the man replied.
Cait. That was her name. Vi's heart latched onto all of the things she now knew; Mysterious woman was Cait, probably short for something. She was british, the prettiest voice Violet had heard in years.
She hummed softly along to the radio, listening into the conversation across the bar and sketching, feet swinging slightly.
Vi glanced up at her sister once she finished helping customers, shutting the sketchbook.
"My guitar still in the back?"
"Yep. You wanna play tonight?"
"You bet" Vi grinned, tucking her things into her bag before walking into the backroom.
Her guitar was where she left it, in its case beside the amp. The redhead grabbed both things, setting them beside the door and taking off her work shirt, stuffing it into her bag before bringing her much more valuable items to the small corner stage.
It didn't take long to set them up, Vi simply sitting in the corner and and practicing her chords, strumming away to a soft song. A few people wandered over, more importantly, Cait did.
The blue haired girl stood with the man she came with, who Vi assumed was Jayce, leaning against the wall. When Powder walked over as-well, Vi took it as her cue to start actually playing. She chose the first song Vander taught her to play, taking a shaky breath.
Tonight felt different, somehow in a town of only familiarity. Vi began strumming the chords, her voice soft as she began to sing Blackbird by The Beatles.
Her soft voice filled the room, echoing through the microphone in front of her as she played each chord. She couldn't help but tear up a bit as she recalled Vander teaching the song, laughing along with his daughter every time she messed up, reassuring her until she got there.
Powder knew the significance of the song, smiling proudly up at her sister the whole time. Vi didn't notice, eyes shut as she focused. She felt that familiar gaze, the one from Cait earlier, a soft smile on her lips as she finished playing.
She opened her baby blue eyes, wiping the slight tears away and setting down her guitar. She took a breath, looking at the group of people in front of her. Cait's eyes were locked on hers, deep in thought before powder wandered up the steps of the stage, hugging Vi.
"You okay?" She whispered, Vi simply nodded, turning to play a few more songs.
The next few were far less emotional, and before the sisters knew it the bar was emptied out and they were closing together. Vi tucked her guitar away, grabbing her bag and beginning to walk Powder home once they had locked up.
"..why'd you pick that song?" Pow asked after a bit, both girls walking relatively slow.
"It felt.. fitting" Vi shrugged, deep in thought. "I miss him" she sighed.
"Me too, Vi" Powder replied, glancing up at her sister.
They finished walking back to Powders house in silence, Vi dropping her off and making sure she was safe before making her own way home. She was deep in thought, maybe a little less focused on her surroundings than she should have been, stopping at the street that could either bring her home or back to The Last Drop.
Vi stood still for a moment, deciding to go back and busy herself with the guitar for a bit longer. She used her spare key, texting Pow what she was doing just in case something looked different in the morning, and set her bag down.
Grabbing her guitar, Violet began to play. She had a mental list of songs Vander had taught her, going through the list as she eventually got to the last song they learned together before he passed away.
She took a heavy breath, unable to sing the lyrics as tears welled in her eyes. Her voice broke at every attempt to do it, messing up the chords. She sobbed quietly, playing the tune to Our Love.
Setting the guitar down, Vi slowly regained her composure, putting the instrument away and taking a sip of whiskey. She slung her bag back over her shoulder, walking home this time and going through her usual routine yet again, maybe with a little more alcohol intake this time around.
Writing down the day in her journal, Vi cradled her arms around a spare pillow, seeking comfort as she drifted off to sleep.
Safe to say, Vi slept like shit.
Every dream was a cloud of Vanders face, sometimes Cait's aswell. That soft voice, Vanders face, and then the ever repeated dream of her mothers death.
The scream. The blood rushing from her neck. That.. creature taking every sense of life away from Felicia, every soft whisper of comfort that neither sister would ever have again.
Vi only pieced it together in the morning, head pounding and cheeks tear stained; her father's funeral. Neither girl was allowed to look at their dad, their mother crying and Vander comforting her. Vi was sure he had passed the same way.
Vi laid in bed for far too long, sobbing quietly into her pillow when she finally decided what to do with her day off. Pulling herself out of bed, the girl managed to get dressed, the same hoodie and leather jacket, along with a pair of baggy jeans.
Slipping on her boots, Violet put her hood up and began to walk. Her dagger clutched tight, the girls head never stopped pounding.
Walking there was stupid. Everything about the day was stupid, and Vi wanted nothing more than to get fucked up and cry more; but she had to do herself something good.
She couldn't help the tears as she approached the cemetery, finding the cluster of graves but settling in front of one, Vanders.
"hey, dad. Should'a brought you flowers this time" Vi said, voice shaky as she fought tears.
She stared for a while, fidgeting with her jacket as rain poured down, soaking her clothes and hair, the water mixing with her tears as she began to sob.
That was all Violet could do; cry at her fathers grave and remember all of their conversations. That was all there was anymore. The memory.
She clutched her dagger closer, pissed at the world and more so herself. She wasn't there when he died, she was passed out in a bar as her fathers calls rang a dead phone.
That guilt followed her everywhere. Every time she drank there was pang of hurt in her heart; she couldn't stop trying to escape it.
And deep down, some sick vein flowing through her body said she deserved it. Sobs echoed through the foggy cemetery, Vi curled up at the foot of Vanders grave, placed beside her mother and fathers; when one day her and Pow were bound to join them.
Crying until she was dehydrated, her eyes were red and swollen, cheeks stained, completely oblivious to her surroundings; not even hearing the twig snap behind her as she shut her dried eyes.
hihi!! i've been working on this since like.. february.. but the weather needs to match what i write so this took a WHILE once the rain stopped.
Anyway! this is part one of i dont know how many, but i hope you all enjoy <33
tags: @aanvime @scott1shabbyand3rson @s1n1st3r54 @wsgbailey