50. “We think they’re monsters, and they think we are. And that’s not going to change by us hiding. We have to communicate.”
And now for something completely different! Here we meet Cain, a young vampire who eventually (not in this short) is gonna get a new borrower best friend. >:3 Also mentioning a bunch of other vampires that I mostly gave names for convenience of writing this, idk if we’ll ever see them again but also I fell a lil’ in love with them so... maybe.
Check out more of my writing at @hiddendreamerwriting!
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The door opened, all eyes turning to peer anxiously up at the messenger. Only one lad stayed focused on his work, a brooding boy with his nose to the grindstone in the corner as he sharpened a wooden stake. Scout paused, placing their bag on the floor and addressing the crowd.
“It’s getting late.” Scout, the scout, announced.
“Good.” Cain grunted. He continued scraping away, the scrape of his blade the only sound in the fortress.
“They’ll bring their pitchforks.” Amdis spoke softly.
“Good.” Cain repeated with a noncommittal snort. One of his wooden flakes fell against her arm, and she flinched.
“Stop it, Cain.” Scout snapped, shooting a glare in his direction. “You’re scaring them.”
Cain did stop, lowering his tools glaring through his bangs at Scout. “And they should be afraid.”
“We should?” The younglings shared nervous glances, chittering amongst themselves like kits.
“For once, dark and brooding is onto something.” Damien assured them, grabbing a spear and standing up boldly. “The humans are coming.”
“They’ll take our children!” A woman shrieked, clutching her son close. The boy wriggled to get out of her grasp, biting at her arm.
“They’ll do a lot more than take your children.” Cain growled. “They’ll kill ‘em and make you watch.”
“Stop it!” Scout stomped their foot, frustrated as the energy in the room was quickly reaching dangerous levels. “I am the one who goes out. I’ve been amongst them. Humans…aren’t all bad.” They paused, rubbing at their arm. “Okay, it’s true. We think they’re monsters, and they think we are. But that’s not going to change by us hiding.” They took a deep breath. “We have to communicate.”
“‘Communicate’? Are you hearing yourself?” Damien hissed, smacking the side of his sibling’s head. “We take one step towards a mortal and they’ll drive a stake through our heart.”
“Only because they expect us to drain them dry of blood!” Scout argued, hitting him back. “But it’s cruel for us to do so, just as it’s cruel for them to make assumptions. If we just talk to the humans, if we let them understand that we mean no harm-”
“They won’t let us drink.” Amdis blurted out, uncharacteristically steady as she said her piece. “Even if they knew what we needed they wouldn’t give it. Too scared of being bitten.”
“Well of course they’re scared, it probably hurts.” Scout admitted. “But we can get a system going, Sam has told me about a witch to the east who deals in painkillers, perhaps they’ll help.”
“Yes, perhaps.” Damien said sarcastically, stepping forward. “Or perhaps your human friend is leading you into a death trap.”
Scout was not to be intimidated, glaring up at Damien. “You will not touch him.”
“So I can’t rip out his neck but he can gouge out my heart?” Damien challenged.
“I didn’t say that.” Scout muttered.
“No but you might as well have meant it.” Damien turned to the resting crowd, gesturing to Scout. “They’ve gone soft, ya hear me?”
“Impossible not to.” Cain rolled his eyes, having gone back to whittling his spear. Damien heard his cheek, coming over to glower over the younger lad.
“You got a problem with me, boy?” Damien asked, his eyes turning a dangerous shade of red. It was bold of him to call Cain a boy when the two were barely separated by a year. Despite his jab, however, Cain did little more than glare up at Damien.
“Damien, please.” Scout stepped up, giving their brother a reassuring touch. “Just… trust me. This can work.” Damien softened under their gaze.
“Or it could kill us all.” Cain mumbled.
“Diplomacy is the only way.” Scout announced, turning back to the group. “I say we lay down our weapons and let the humans have their demands.”
“And when they demand our heads?” Damien raised an eyebrow.
“They’re not going to demand our heads.” Scout dodged the question. “Not when they see how compliant we’re acting. It’ll confuse them enough to turn a listening ear. And Sam will vouch for us, we have friends on their side even when it doesn’t seem that way.”
“And what about the blood?” Amdis piped up. “If they won’t take our heads, surely they’ll starve us.”
“They might be hesitant to let us drink in the beginning, true, but we can survive on animal blood until the time comes.” There was a chorus of groaning from the crowd, Scout rushing to ease their complaints. “I know, I know, but it will only be for a short while, I promise. Just long enough for them to see we don’t mean harm.”
“...look.” Damien sighed. “You’re not exactly making a compelling offer, talking about throwing ourselves at their feet and gurgling pig’s blood. But the fact is if I have to spend one more eve locked in here with you lot I will start ripping out your necks.”
“Not if I rip yours first.” Cain assured him, having a similar mindset.
“So if you don’t want to stay here, are you saying you’ll talk to them?” Scout perked up, looking eager.
“I say we give it a shot!” Damien slapped Scout’s back, surprising the group with his agreement. “Worst comes to worst when we get that close we just start killing ‘em.” Scout’s eagerness quickly turned to unease.
“Please don’t.” Scout winced. “That’s not diplomacy.”
“Only bite if they bite first?” Amdis offered a compromise.
“Works for me.” Damien shrugged. “At least it’ll prove we’re better than them. Who’s with me?” The group glanced amongst themselves, but with his vote the general sway seemed to be in diplomacy’s favor. Slowly more vamps stood up, joining the thrawl. After all, vampires tended to be creatures who favored group mentality. Only the most recently turned vampire was still whittling away.
“Cain?” Scout asked, looking at the only one left sitting.
Cain shrugged, finishing off his spear. “You all can go.” He said quietly.
Scout deflated at his words. “You’re not coming then?”
“Do as you want.” Cain stood up, not looking them in the eye as he gathered up his tools. “I’m heading to the abandoned shack at the edge of the woods, figure it’s as good as any place to set up a home.”
“...okay.” Scout gave him a cautious smile. “Be safe.”
Cain should have said ‘you too’. He hadn’t thought of it, at the time, watching as his coven marched off towards the center of town already alight with glowing torches. He sent one last glance their way, ducking down the alley towards the edge of town.
