Brass Thorn
The nauseous song of ripping flesh and gurgling blood fell upon deaf ears as the stake dug deep in her chest, burrowing inside the purple heart easily and smoothly, as if meant to be there. Pained, savage screams never heard were loosed, for the mind of the stake’s handler was full of his own guilty crying.
There was no hatred in those frenzied, red eyes. Twitching of the wrists and other such spasms are to be expected when the hourglass’ last grain falls, but knowing about it doesn’t prepare a man at all when that pitiful act finally plays in front of his eyes, like a sad pantomime trying to futilely recreate vigor, a facsimile of survival that is but a short lived placebo. Clawing, convulsing, rocking one’s head forth and back, romancing the possibility of this being a dream... All of it amounts to exactly as much as you’d think, when a long, thick stake is driven in your heart.
The weakened, clawed hands finally ceased their tantrum, and they laid peacefully atop the stake owner’s hands. Their fingers intertwined, and her weak grip faded before long.
There was no hatred in those frenzied, red eyes, a trail of crimson sorrow leaving a streak across her cheeks. She was smiling, and she silently mouthed some words before her eyes and body stood still. The thrashing was already a memory.
And yet one could say she got off easy.
The stake was coated with a fresh layer of purple blood, but he was of the mind that some red would go well with it.
There was no hatred in those frenzied, red eyes, unlike in his blue eyes, bitter and wet with hatred, self hatred. It was almost as if she found peace. Lucky.
Into his own chest it went with no reservation whatsoever, in stark contrast as to when it went into hers.
As it should be.
———
“...ben! Reuben! Gosh, wake up, already!”
“...I’m up! I’m up, goodness, what makes you think I want your yelling first thing in the morning.”
He didn’t have to look at her to know that she had placed her right hand above her modest chest as if offended, nay, hurt. “You should be thanking me for relinquishing my precious voice unto your unworthy self first thing in the morning, Ru! We could’ve avoided these deplorable circumstances if you had decided not to be a sleepy, sleepy filthy little piggy! But, alas, here we are!”
Eyup. That was exactly the kind of flowery nonsense he expected. She could’ve simply said “Well, you weren’t waking up, and breakfast’s getting cold.”, but what is Eveline without a flair for theatrics? A penchant for the dramatic?
“Yeah, yeah...” the man answered from deep within his impregnable fort of blankets with the vim of a sloth as he blindly pawed at his bedside table, hitting his lamp, his wallet, and finally, his wristwatch. “It’s just like you to pick a random day to have breakfast earlier than usual... Hold on, is the time really--”
“Hence why I didn’t wish you a good morning, you lout.” Eveline sniffed, twirling doorwards, her lush, blonde mane dancing in tempo accordingly. “Be there in five minutes.” she commanded.
“Well, dang, I’ll be, I really overslept. Yeah, be right there.”
“...”
“...”
“...Do you have unfinished business with your bed sheets and pillow? Out, already.”
“You’re still in the room.”
“And?”
“I am not wearing a shirt.”
“And?”
“I don’t want you gawking upon my pure body... It’s embarrassing.” Reuben said in an exaggerated tone.
“Hmph! Just get up already! Whatever abominable insinuations you are making upon my honor and caliber as a dame are simply mistaken, but fortunately for you, I am full of mercy, so I shall forgive it. Now, please, do get up. Nothing spoils a day quite like cold fried eggs.” pouted and puffed the maiden, lightly stomping on the floor as she is wont to.
“Haha, yeah, yeah, comin’ right up.”
With a hop and a huff, Reuben abandoned his cozy fortress, quickly putting on a simple shirt and combing his brown hair in front of the large mirror next to his bed. Were one to see such an earthly, let’s call it, man dressed in the bare necessities of an open shirt and tidy yet rugged work pants fixing his hair in front of an elegant mirror hanging on an exquisitely ornate wall full of handmade carvings, standing barefoot on the luxurious red carpeting that spanned the massive ‘room’ some might consider a home in terms of size, one might deem it necessary to pinch themselves. A large chandelier hung above him, with many smaller and no less beautiful lamps placed strategically across the room. Sofas, a centerpiece table, and a desk used the rest of the space with no cluttering to speak of, all accentuated by a cabinet with some top-notch glassware.
The man simply did not match the room, but that room was indeed his. Had been for years now.
With a grin and a stretch, the man collected his belongings and stuffed his pockets and belt straps with all his necessities. Wallet, wristwatch, notepad, pens, keys, and a large, stake-shaped object wrapped in linen cloth, which he usually carries by hanging it on his hip.
He doesn’t like the stake...
“Well, let’s not keep Her Majesty waiting any longer. I really overslept today.”
...But he must bear with its weight on his hip.
Lest a promise shatters.
———
If the dear reader thought Reuben’s room was extravagant, then the dining room where Reuben and Eveline enjoyed their breakfast was downright decadent. A long, priceless table where one might imagine mafia drug lords, evil dark lords, or a variety of assorted lords of all calls of life and moral alignments to be sitting on it, discussing overdue payments this or impure rituals that. A bigger, brighter chandelier hung above the table, and the walls were lined with the same intricate engravings, and then some, as Reuben’s room, in addition to a myriad of paintings depicting previous owners of the castle, all different generations from the noble Stanasila family. As tradition went, the paintings adorned the room in a clockwise temporal fashion, meaning that whoever was a child in one painting, was an adult in the painting to the right, accompanied with their children who’d become adults in the next painting, and so on. Despite the prodigious length of the table, they were huddled in a corner, our dashing duo, as there is no sense using each end of the table when there’s only two of you.
“Seems we made it on time! It’s delicious as usual. My compliments to the chef, Skender!”. Reuben enthusiastically devoured the fried eggs, the sausages, and the toast spread with jam as if possessed, which meant things were business as usual.
“It is my utmost joy to hear your praise, Sir Hopfer. I hope the rest of the meal delights you still.” answered Skender with practiced poise, standing next to the dame in his impeccable black tuxedo as he always did.
“Skender... Come on, drop the ‘sir’ already, we’re both equal in the hierarchy here... Hell, scratch that, you’re above me in the hierarchy! ‘Personal butler to the Madame Stanasila’ is far more impressive than “that lad that fixes fences and does other such stuff’, so throw me a bone here.” the exasperated Reuben answered, nervously stroking his stubble.
“I’m honored you think of me with such praise, Sir Hopfer, but see, Sir Hopfer, despite your opinion on the matter, Sir Hopfer, and how much you revile and whine about me referring to Sir Hopfer as ‘Sir Hopfer’, the reality of the situation is that you are ‘Sir Hopfer’, Sir Hopfer, and nothing can change that, Sir Hopfer.” the butler replied with a perfectly pleasant and consistent monotone.
“Oh, woah, ok, your sass is a bit more volatile than usual. I guess you’re mad about me oversleeping, geez. Sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
“And he is right to be cross with you!” the dame interjected, finishing her own slice of toast. “You had us waiting for quite the spell, Ru. Had this feast gone to waste, as per the law of equivalent exchange, Skender would have had to slaughter you. This marmalade is simply heavenly on this bread!”
“Pfff...” the man chortled, averting his sight and trying to drown laughter and sausage with tea.
“Oh? Care to share what is so funny that you must subdue the laughter, my dear Ru?”
“Who the hell calls it ‘marmalade’?”
A different, faint, almost inaudible chuckle came from behind Lady Stanasila, but alas, her ears are sharp and her eyes, sharper, as it took a single glare from her Lordship to silence the butler. “And what would one so uncouth as to delay breakfast call it? ‘Jam’, as if they were some uneducated rodent from the barrows?”
“Darn right I call it jam, ‘cause it’s jam. ‘Marmalade’ is the kind of word that gets your lunch money stolen by feisty kids, Lin. I swear, you gotta keep with the times, or you’re really gonna end up in an embarrassing situation, and I am not going to be there all the time to bail you out.”
“Oh, dread the thought of needing you to solve my problems. You haven’t even touched the eggs yet! Ta ta! Get to it!”
Such lively table talk was habitual during the mornings in Castle Nefartatul, where naught a breakfast ended without a laugh and some banter. The scene was so common that it might as well have been one with the paintings that lined the walls: The sharply dressed Lady Eveline Stanasila, her butler Skender Plesu behind her, and the jovial Reuben Hopfer by her side, enjoying whatever masterpiece Skender’s hands crafted that particular morning.
“...Well? Are you ready to tell me?” Eveline inquired as she sipped the last of her tea, motioning vaguely with her hand and immediately getting a refill, courtesy of the able Skender.
“Hm? Tell you what, about the jamalade? It’s pretty darn good, yeah, I am utterly surprised that this was made from the apricots from the backyard, it goes really well with the sau--”
“No, silly. About your nightmare.”
“Hm? What nightmare?”
“Haha. Don’t even try, Ru.”
“...”
Those jewel-like red eyes, shimmering and knowing, weren’t just for show. As she rested her chin on her pale hand, Eveline’s lips showed a kind, subtle smile, but her eyes sang a melody of concern.
“You are usually the first one up alongside Skender. And you must forgive a lady for refraining to point it out, but you were covered in sweat when you finally woke up.”
“Ah.”
An apologetic smile indicative of surrender is the only answer the man replied with, averting his eyes and finishing up his plate, to which the dame could only sigh.
“...It was that, wasn’t it?”
“...That it was.”
“I must apologize for leaving early, but I do have a myriad of tasks lined up for me this day, so I’d like to get to it. Lady Stanasila, Sir Hopfer.” And with a polite bow, the butler left without waiting for a response.
“...Heh, what a kind man. He certainly knows how to read the atmosphere. Now, Ru...” -- Eveline’s voice softened considerably -- “...Please don’t blame yourself. Night terrors such as that are not your fault in the slightest, and whenever they come, please, I implore you, share them with me. No one can blame you for them, and if someone does, know that I shall be the one to pose them the utmost duress for it.”
Saying that, the aristocrat’s slender, pale arm slowly turned dark red, starting from the tip of her fingers up until the middle of her forearm. Dark red tendrils erupted from the arm and hand, thin and elegant, coiling around the handle of the teapot, lifting it with ease and filling up the concerned man’s teacup.
“Now, drink up some more of this Lemon Balm tea and clear your mind of concerns, yes?”
“...”
“...Ru?”
There was no verbal response. Reuben simply stood up and approached the castle’s lady with confident steps.
“...Ru? W-was it something I said...?”
His strong hands slowly reached for her beautiful face, softly cupping around her cheeks, holding her dearly. The poor girl was left speechless at this bold motion, her heart mimicking an earthquake. When Reuben crouched further and his face slowly yet boldly approached hers, Eveline, redefining ‘red’ with her neon-like blush, nervously closed her eyes, puckered out her lips, and...
*SKRITCH SKRITCH SKRITCH*
...Reuben mercilessly rubbed his stubble against the fair and smooth skin of Lady Stanasila.
“!? Gyaaaaah! Hey, stop! Stop!”
“What have I told you about using blood magic in the dining hall!”
“N-now, please, no need to get like this! It was m-merely to refill your cup, I--”
*SKRITCH*
“Uuuuaaaaaah! I yield I y-yield! Please! No more!”
“You cheeky vampires...!”
“Uwaaaaaaaa!”
The stubble rub once again claimed victory.
———
“Geez... My poor cheeks... What did I do to earn the sandpaper’s ire...?” the vampire lamented, her slender hands tending to her red, raw cheeks.
“That’ll learn ya! We’ve discussed this before! Anyhow, Lin, I need you to come out with me today.”
This last sentence certainly piqued Eveline’s interest. “Oh? And what for? You never require my aid in your duties, dear Ru. Whatever is it that bars your path?”
Eveline sat on a large sofa facing away from Reuben in his room, her usual spot, sipping away at Lemon Balm tea as she always did while he changed into his work clothes.
“Well, the thing is, I chopped a lot of trees over the last two days, and I want to neatly tie it all up as lumber we can use for this and that, primarily heating, what with winter right on our doorstep and all.”
“...That sounds rather laborious. What do you need me for, then?”
“Your blood magic would come in handy for piling it up all neatly and then carrying it to the storage.”
It took no more words to make the red eyes of the vampire glow with excitement, her feet kicking vigorously for just a few seconds before she stood up, gallant and dignified, right hand over her chest, sporting that face that knows no adversity. “W-well well well! I understand if you are insufficient for this task, my dear Ru! One can’t expect much out of weak and feeble humans, hmhm, especially with heavy lifting such as this, and so, I declare, it cannot be helped that you require I to assist you! It shall be me who provides this fine day! I understand, so worry not! Your dearest Lady Stanasila shall show you how it’s done!”
“...So easy...”
“What was that, Ru? I couldn’t hear you! Hmhm!”
“I said thank you for your generous and merciful aid, Milady Lin!”
“Hmhmmmm! It is noblesse oblige, after all! Gratitude needn’t be voiced! ...But don’t let me stop you, hmhm!”
Nothing in this world enthused Eveline more than a chance to show off her powers. If she were left to her own devices, she’d be slinging blood threads left and right with nary a reservation whatsoever. She probably wouldn’t even walk or use any of her limbs, simply deciding to move about by using the tendrils. This would be the case, were her neck not restrained by a collar with a massive iron ball tied to it, name of “Reuben”, who insists she use her body, y’know, her appendages, her biology, perhaps, lest atrophy (and incomparable laziness) claims her everything.
“Well, let us depart already, Ru! Are you dressed yet?”
“Ready and rearing to go, ma’am.” he teased.
In stark contrast with his Lalph Rauren 2018 Sloppy Winter Collection breakfast look, Reuben now wore an impeccable dark green suit with a black string tie over a white shirt, somewhere between a tuxedo and something far more nostalgic and bombastic, worn by Stanasilan gentlemen of the past. The suit used to be a more vibrant verdant in ages long gone, but the toll of time spares no one, not even the finest of fabrics. Still, the fabric aged not like milk, but like wine, the charming dark green giving Reuben the exact look he liked: Not too fancy, not too bright (so stains incurred during work wouldn’t stand out so much), yet still rich with class and dignity, befitting a man of Stanasila. Even during the most menial of work, he is representative of the household, after all, and dread the thought of tarnishing the family’s good name. With his hair slicked back and his stubble shaven clean, Sir Hopfer was ready to work.
“Oh, behave. Don’t you start with the ‘ma’am’s this early in the day. You know you are to refer to me as Lin, Ru.”
“I’m just pulling your leg, Lin, let’s get going.”
But there was a little snickering behind the man’s request. Some rascality, one may say.
———
With deft if perhaps too vigorous swipes, Eveline swung her blood threads around, slashing and smashing some of the felled trees into firewood with ease, while shaving and piling other logs together for any other use, such as repairs. For her blood magic, this task that would take many men many hours was done neatly and quickly, the heavy lifting included, as the logs weighted as feathers to her strong blood threads. Reuben couldn’t help but whistle.
“Eyup, this is precisely what I had in mind!”
“Hmhm! What do you think? Perfection itself, is it not? For one such as I, this merely child’s play! I deserve no praise for such a simple act.” -- she held her breath for just a few seconds --”...But I wouldn’t complain if praise were to find its way to me.”
“There’s no other person in the world I would ask for help, because no one could do it as perfectly as you! What marvelous magic! You’re so strong and beautiful, Milady Lin! Sign my shirt!”
“Hmhmmm!”
“By the lords, is she easy...” Reuben thought to himself as he chuckled.
“...Now, oh good Sir Reuben Hopfer, mind ceasing with this trickery and telling me exactly why it is that you brought me here?”
“...You really are the sharpest darn tool in the shed, Lin.”
She simply replied with a smug smile over her shoulder, not one meant to belittle in the slightest, one that said “I know you better than you know yourself, Ru. Who might you think I am?”. She simply shaved the last of the logs with the threads that erupted from her red arms in silence, not taking her eyes off of him, quietly indicating for him to go on.
“Well, there’s something that’s most likely going to happen today, and I want to show you.” finally confessed the woodsman, taking a peek at his wristwatch. “Yup, we’re on time. Follow me, it’s not far.”
“Heh, I knew it. This many trees is nothing you’d need my help with, so I figured you had an iron on the fire.”
The territory of Castle Nefartatul was expansive and occupied many hills overlooking the town of Mesterul, one of which housed a forest. One of the duties of Reuben was to make sure all the fencing was in top condition, as the protector family must showcase a good image towards the townspeople at all times. The fencing was composed of a large black iron fence with pikes on top, elegant and sleek.
“I still think the fence is unnecessary. I mean, the townspeople love you, they aren’t going to try to do anything bad to your lands or anything. Even if someone tried to break into the castle or anything, well... It’s not like anyone except me would be in danger, given the residents.”
“As if you were any less dangerous than the regular resident of Castle Nefartatul. Fancy that!” -- she laughed lightly, hiding her mouth behind a sleeve -- “As I’ve told you repeatedly now, the fence is simply there for the looks. The townspeople must look at the Stanasila family and see a mighty fortress! The fence improves their morale, believe it or not.”
“You do have a point. I do recall thinking it was the coolest thing, those black bars with the castle framed in the far back. I wasn’t afraid of anything, because if anything happened, I knew you all would protect us. Oh, Lin, shush now, come here, we should be on time.”
Grabbing the vampire by the wrist, Reuben pulled Eveline into a bush, hiding them from sight. They were stuck close in that small bush, bodies pressed together tightly, chest to chest as Eveline elegantly sat on her knees on top of Reuben’s lap, yet they showed no sign of being uncomfortable or troubled in the slightest.
“Oho! This brings back some memories, doesn’t it? It’s been far too long since we were up for some mischief, hehe.”
“I think we spent more time together hiding in bushes and other such places than out and about, honestly, haha! Now, shush, they should be here any mo-- Oh, here they are! Watch closely!”
As if on cue, a boy and a girl trespassed into a field of flowers in the castle’s territory. It was far away from the castle, and they used a part of the fence that was damaged and bent, giving just enough space for a small child to pass through.
“Hey now, it’s your job to keep the fence in one piece, Ru!” the lady chided in whispers.
“I had noticed it and I was gonna fix it, but... Well, these kids have been coming here for a few days now, and I’ve been observing them. It’s usually more of them, but today’s special, it’s just the two of them.”
“You’ve been peeping on children? Are you daft, perhaps?”
“Yup! But trust me, pay attention...”
———
“So, why’d you bring me here, Helga?” the boy asked, scratching his head. “We usually come with the whole gang, but you insisted just the two of us came. We’re gonna miss the games!”
To properly complement the boy’s confusion, the little girl was beet red, clearly avoiding contact of any kind, be that with the eyes or with the hands. No doubt, the little bundle of nerves was resolute and believed firmly that this was going to go swimmingly, but by the lords, confessing is much like bungee jumping: You can read up on it all you want, research the proper methods, get the best equipment, but when you find yourself in front of the void, you realize nothing ever prepared you for the real thing. Replace “void” with the much scarier “feelings” and you’ve got yourself the game of speed checkers that is love. A tangential note: A certain lurking pair by a nearby bush had peepers the size of saucers, their sight fixated on the scene unfolding in front of them.
“S-see... Well... Here!” the girl finally shouted, as if letting out a war cry, pushing a hastily thrown together bouquet (read: messily plucked from the very flower field they currently stood on) of gladioli. “Florin! I like you! I l-like you a lot! Please be my best friend forever!”
“Helga...! Yes, of course! I love playing with you! Let’s be friends forever!”
The boy accepted the bouquet, the two little bundles smiling, and so they trotted away, hand in hand. A tangential note: A certain lurking pair by a nearby bush were quietly yet very vigorously celebrating and pumping their arms up and down.
———
“Wasn’t that disgustingly adorable? I overheard the girl talking to some of the others about how she wanted to do this little confession to her best friend today, so I think I can be forgiven for the fence.”
“You are promptly exonerated from any crimes you have ever committed, period.” answered Eveline, dragging her hands down her face. “That was positively dangerous to my sugar levels. That was a sunshine so potent that even I may turn to ash. I consider this a murder attempt from your part, but one I am glad you orchestrated... Sweet little things... I could eat them.”
With that last statement, Reuben frowned loudly.
“...Not like that, gosh! You know what I mean, you tease.” she laughed, punching him lightly in the arm. “Aah~ This does remind me of a certain pair of kids mere years ago...”
“Oh, it’s really been that long, huh? Time really flies.” Reuben chuckled, subtly checking if her “light” jab bruised or broke a bone.
“...”
“...Hm.”
As if the kiddie confession they witnessed just now was the catalyst, the bush duo suddenly became very aware of their current position and proximity, almost as if they had not really been paying attention to their demeanor in lieu of whatever it was Reuben had to oh so fervently show Eveline. Her modest breasts pressed against his solid chest, his legs coiled around hers as she sat on his lap, their scents, how close their faces were, they suddenly realized exactly what position it is that they’ve been holding for some minutes now without really having paid it much mind before. When they were kids? This was natural, an efficient way of being able to fit in even the cranniest nook. Now that they are both adults and developed in every sense of the word? This was catastrophic.
“...Right, we should be getting back on track with that lumber.” Reuben awkwardly muttered, looking elsewhere, lest he gets lost in those captivating red eyes, doing his best to ignore Eveline’s sweet fragrance point blank, hoping none of this showed on his face.
“...So, ahem. Is the log issue pressing? Is your plate full this day?” she asked meekly, averting her eyes as well, trying not to move much so as to not rub against him.
“Not really, no. Taking the logs back and mending the fence are the most pressing matters, really, everything else is pretty secondary and can wait.”
“I see, excellent. Then! Upon my authority! I command you to stay like this for a bit longer.” Eveline took a sharp breath in and cuddled against Reuben, ringing her slender arms around his torso and doing her utter best to not choke on her words. “Go against these orders at your own risk, human. I sh-shan’t release you unharmed if you do.”
He simply chuckled, half amused and half nervous, those nerves that come not from the action, but from the context, not from the implication, but from the realization. It really had been a long time, hadn’t it? Her mask of noble demeanor was always cute to see in action when it came to something she was being insincere about, but goodness gracious, he had plenty to mind as well. Laughing now would put him in the fast lane for a gold medal in hypocrisy. There really wasn’t a joke he could crack, so he simply replied by returning the hug, embracing her tightly, one hand on her back, the other on the back of her head, brushing his fingers through her soft, gold mane. In return, she was tugging and pressing lightly with her fingers on his back, giving him that awkward little massage one does when hugging someone tightly in silence, taking in the moment, quietly hoping it could go on forever.
Silence.
The only sounds Eveline could hear were those of the nature around them, the winds of her beloved country making leaves whistle and branches rattle softly. That, and the heartbeat of the man whose chest she pressed the side of her face against. A reliable, solid chest. Expand. Contract. Expand. Contract. His breathing was not calm at all, and his heart could be rated dangerously on the Richter scale, but she was in no position to make a joke, given her own heart was not doing any better.
Silence.
It truly had been a while since they just held each other. A mixture of joy and sorrow filled them, and both tightened their hold on the other. Sweet, soft caresses and the heaven of simply having each other...
It wasn’t as simple for them.
As they held each other tightly, warmly, lovingly, they both entered a state of reflection, flooded with the memories of the circumstances that lead to this, almost as if their hearts beat in sync...
Silence.
———
Many years ago...
Windmills.
Are they giants? Are they enemies? Are they alive?
“W-wait, Reuben, don’t! What if it attacks you? You’ll get everyone else involved if you anger it!”
“Pff, as if that thing could beat me. Even if gets angry at everyone, the Stanasila family will stop it!” boldly answered the kid, putting on his “Champion’s Helmet” (a bucket with a hole poked in) and brandishing his “Victor’s Mace” (a ladle). Without further ado, he rushed in to fight the lakeside windmill, attacking it with all the fury twenty five kilos of kid can muster. Which doesn’t amount to much, it seems, as his ladle got stuck in one of the windmill’s sails and the poor lad was sent flying sideways, landing harshly against the grass. “Oww! H-hah! Worthy opponent! You’re lucky I have an appointment today!”
“By the lords, are you alright, Reuben!?” one of the children cried, laughing his lungs off. “You madman! You could’ve died!”
“You mean he could’ve died!” Reuben declared, pointing at his ‘adversary’. “He got a lucky parry, that’s all!”
So went another day, the rowdy bunch of kids playing their rough games and laughing as the sun shone above them. Or it would’ve been another day, had they not have been at the right place and time for destiny to play one of its old tricks. The harbinger of this encounter were the clippety-cloppety of a horse that approached them from the hills. Atop the stallion, an imposing, slender man rode with a little girl in front. The horse soon enough made its way to the children, the riders descending and approaching the windmill.
“This one looks to be in perfect shape, Milady... Except for that... Ladle? Yes, aside from that ladle that seems to be stuck on it, this one presents no problem.” the adult man explained, questions brewing inside of him.
“That’s good. This windmill is important, after all!” the little girl added without missing a beat. “Still, we haven’t seen inside.”
“I haven’t seen inside, Milady. You promised to behave if I brought you along for the inspection. Now, wait out here, I’ll be back momentarily.
“Boo.”
As the slender man headed inside, the girl and the horse waited, with a slowly approaching mob of curious kids approaching, a mob that didn’t go unnoticed.
“...Yes? May I help you?” she finally shot at them without even glancing in their direction.
“Who are you? We’ve never seen you around here!” one of the kids asked.
“Oh? You all play here often? That’s marvelous, then you know this place pretty well, right? What’s this windmill like? What’s the lake like?” the now somewhat excited, pale girl asked, twirling one of her blonde locks with her finger.
“Oh no no! We don’t give info to outsiders!” one of the children interrupted, right before the others could start divulging essential turf information to this interloper.
“Oh, come on, Reuben, be nice!”
“Nice is for those that earn it! You, girl! You don’t look the outdoors type, what are you doing here? You oughta at least give your name before you try to shake us down!” Rowdy Reuben demanded, pointing at her.
“She wasn’t shaking us down... Don’t point... Why are you like this?”
“Hmph! Fair enough, to all of your points! I suppose it is only right to show my mettle.” the girl said, undaunted, picking up a nearby stone. “My name is Eveline Izabela Stanasila! I shall prove myself to you now.”
“Wait...” “Did she... Did she say Stanasila?” “She’s from the castle... Oh wait, the Count’s daughter?! “Y-yeah, now that I think about it, their daughter is named Eveline, and she’s got the gold hair and red eyes...!”
A lot of murmuring brewed among the kids, all of it dying down as she once again raised her voice, pointing towards a distant tree across the lake.
“See that tree? I shall hit it with this rock. Now, witness my mettle!”
“Pfff, come on... There’s no way a girl can hit that tree from here, you are cra--”
Reuben’s words were cut short as a rock at sonic speeds flew right by his face, missing him by a hair’s breadth, the lake’s water growing turbulent just from the sheer force of the projectile that just soared the air above it. The rock hit one of the tree’s branch, cutting it off cleanly. Had it hit the tree’s trunk, it was easy to believe it would’ve easily been uprooted, if not outright destroyed. With a mere flick of her wrist, she had thrown such a rock.
“Holy...!” “She’s really one of the Stanasila...!”
The murmuring was now cheering, and the kids spared no effort in showing their adoration, praising her and thanking her, gushing about how it was an honor to meet one of their protectors. All of them, except Reuben, who simply looked at the grass, as if searching for something.
“Hoh?” the cocky girl voiced. “Now now, you truly plan to be this uncouth? Challenging me to show my worth and then failing to recognize it? That is simply deplorable, hmhm! I may forgive your indiscretion just yet if you acknowledge my feat! Maybe even bow a little!”
She was strong, she was smart, she was capable, and she knew it. This wasn’t hot air, this was the subtle bragging of a girl who knew she was superior. To her, these kids were just that, kids, unworthy peons whose maximum potential could never hope to match a hundredth of her power. She was polite, but such cheshire sharpness was hidden behind her polite velvet.
And Reuben didn’t like that one bit.
“Yeah, that was a pretty cool throw, but I can do that too, so it’s no biggie.”
“...Excuse me? You believe... Oh, oh my! This is rich! You believe you can hit that tree from here, too? Please, you’re merely a hu-- A child!”
“...But if it’s Reuben...” “Yeah, maybe...” “He’s got a plan, huh? Let’s see...!”
“...What?”
A claim by itself is nothing more than that: A claim. But when that claim is seriously considered others, validated, believed in, that’s when a claim gains heft. In front of her very eyes, these kids believed in the impossible that this ‘Reuben’ could supposedly accomplish.
And she didn’t know if to laugh or be wary.
“Oh! Here’s a good one! Now, watch this!”
Holding a stone that looked like a flattened egg, oblique and smooth, Reuben threw it with all of his might, his whole body working in tandem to make the best possible throw. The stone hit the water, and then skipped. And then skipped again. And again. And again and again and again and again. The stone skipped the entirety of the lake’s length, and sure enough, hit the tree right on the trunk, the children exploding in praise and excited screaming.
“Yooooo!” “Reuben, you are crazy!” “Rowdy Reuben does it again!”
Eveline was stupefied. She was matched, pound by pound, by a human. This supposedly impossible feat she achieved, he matched equally. They both had their own way of doing it, their own method, but the truth stood that he didn’t take it lying down, and backed his claims with actions. More than peer approval, that’s what adds even more heft to a claim, and makes it something far beyond one: Actually living up to your word.
“Heh! Easy. How’d ya like it, oh mighty Missy Stana--Ah?”
And nothing could’ve made her happier. There she was, clapping her hands with a big, beautiful smile plastered on her face, her pearl white fangs showing. “I say! That was a fine toss! I didn’t know one could-- How did you do that? You must teach me!”
“...Huh? U-uh, skipping stone on water?”
“Is that the name of this art? Yes, then, indeed, I wish to appoint you as my personal instructor! Do you accept my request?”
Reuben was confused, to say the least. Whenever he showed someone up, be it an adult or an older kid, it usually resulted in a fight or an argument. This had been the first time someone actually complimented him. It was an emotion he never knew, a joy he didn’t believe existed. Something about someone strong being able to accept someone else for their skill was, well...
It was wonderful.
“...Y-yeah! Uh, I’m sorry if I seemed nasty just then. I’m Reuben. Reuben Hopfer! Nice to meet you, Eveline!”
“The pleasure is mine. I apologize if my attitude was unseemly.”
“Oh, don’t sweat it, it’s fine.”
“...Sweat? Am I sweating? Goodness, I-I did not notice, I apolo--”
“No no, as in, no problem, haha. Just come over here any day and I’ll teach you to skip stones, we’re always playing here!”
———
Months later after this...
The setting sun dyed the sky a gorgeous orange as the gale blew by the windmill, two silhouettes still by the lake, throwing stones at the lake, trying to make them skip. They had been at this for hours, as they did every day. During the day, the other kids were around, too, but in the afternoon, it was always just the two of them. And they talked and they talked and they talked. They argued often, but never harshly, and they made up just as fast. They competed about everything, these two. Even now, they competed on who could make the stone skip the most times. They never could get ahead of each other. Never had a crushing victory and defeat come from them. It was always close. The girl, who always relied on her superior strength, now learned how to apply wits and skill, lest she be left behind. The boy, who was merely human, had no shortage of creative ideas, coming up with solution after solution to seemingly overwhelming odds, matching her raw strength every time.
He wasn’t a stranger to smiles, but they never felt as fulfilling as when they happened with her around.
She wasn’t a stranger to smiles, but they never felt as genuine as when they happened with him around.
The sun had set, and thus time pried them away from each other, alas. The slender man on the horse was here to pick her up.
But that’d last merely hours.
For as sure as morning would come, they too would meet under the sun again, as they had all these days, as they would for as long as they could.
To skip stones at the lake.
———
One year later after this...
With a simple leap, the vampire reached the top of the tallest tree by the lakeside. Clad in her usual elegant red and black dress that exposed her shoulders, waist adorned with a red rose over the black sash, she sat there, looking down at her adversary.
“Well? I eagerly await to see how it is that you match this, Ru.”
“What, that’s all, Lin? You said you had something ‘noh-vel’ or whatever in store for me. Well, one second.”
Reuben took off his bag and rummaged through it. He didn’t go anywhere without that worn out yet sturdy green bag, big, filled to the brim with sundry utensils. Dubbed the “Eveline Bag” by everyone else, it contained anything and everything he thought would come in handy when taking on any given challenge by Eveline, or when challenging her to something. To match her monstrous physical strength, he needed to have a kit handy, after all. It didn’t take long for him to produce a rope with a hook tied on one end (not to be confused with the rope with hooks tied on either end, that one was for another purpose). With some spins and an almost casual throw, the townie used momentum and daredevil dexterity to simply swing his way up the massive tree, soon reaching the top. Before he could grab onto a branch, however, Eveline grabbed his arm, catching him midair and easily holding onto him.
“Wh--! Hey, Lin, no helping me! You’re just gonna say you helped me and so I lose by default, you weasel!”
With an elegant chuckle and the utmost care, the vampire simply pulled him up and helped him sit on the same branch she currently sat on. “Nonsense. I can’t call disqualification or foul play if it’s me doing the helping. It’s another tie, I concede you can do this, too. It’s been ties nonstop as of late, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, but it’s not bad, honestly.” earnestly replied Reuben, now safely balanced on the branch. “Let’s think of something where there can be no ties! One winner, one loser, simple as that. Winner takes all the recent ties as wins, and--”
“Simmer down, you boiling dullard, let’s not talk about that right now.”
“Huh? Then what do we even talk about?”
“Hah... I did say something novel awaited you, should you prove capable of matching me today, and so, I shall deliver on this promise.”
The girl shuffled towards Reuben and casually wrapped her arm around his waist, pressing her body against him, much to his surprise. Such was his shock, that he couldn’t get a word out, not helped at all by the innocent, pure flushed face of the vampire. It took a simple look at his face for her to realize the effect this had on him, prompting a smug chuckle from Eveline.
“My my, you can throw stones across the length of a lake, climb trees with unmatched agility, and match a vampire pound by pound, but a girl showing you the barest physical affection is enough to make you crumble like this? How delightful, Ru. I thought you were better than this, hmhm...”
“It’s not ‘a girl’, you dummy... I don’t care about being hugged or anything!”
“Oh? Then will the young man elaborate on what this reaction is~?” she whispered mockingly.
“It’s, uh, the fact that it’s you that caught me by surprise. You’re my best friend, and I love everything we do, from talking to competing, always pushing the other to improve, but... None of that changes the fact that you are, well, this cute.”
Vinyl scratch.
“P-pardon?”
“Oh, uh, I don’t wanna make this weird, but you are really freaking cute, and I never really thought about it, but now that we are up here, and you are kinda plastered to me and I can feel your... Everything pressed against me, it kinda kicked in that you are, uh...”
“I am...?”
“Y’know...”
“I object. I do not know. You need to say it or I won’t know.”
“Come on...”
“I suppose I can’t force you, it’d be unbecoming, but I must admit it’s disappointing...”
“Argh! You’re beautiful! You’re so beautiful that it makes my heart hurt! Seeing you all close and huddled up makes me realize you are so stupidly beautiful and cute that I can’t stop looking at you, because if I do, you’re all I can think of! You have a beautiful face with eyes I wish I could look at all day, lips that look softer than marshmallows and thrice as cute, you have long beautiful golden hair without a strand ever being out of place, and you are strong and love to improve, I’ll file a theft complaint with the town hall, because you stole my h... Look, you’re really beautiful and fun, I’ve never felt this way about anyone, but I just know that I don’t want to spend a second without you, you, you bandit, I don’t know, I’m just talking now, I’ll shut up.”
For the first time in Reuben’s life, he heard Eveline gasp sharply. Her usual perfectly composed image lay shattered as she simply looked at him in the eyes with an expression that didn’t believe what it just heard.
“I-I don’t know what to say... My word, I simply, ah, intended to tease you a bit, but...”
“Oh.”
Her grip became stronger and she buried her face in his chest, much to his surprise. “...But I do not dislike this at all, nor am I of a different opinion about you...”
“R-right.”
“Reuben, do know that I adore spending my time with you, and that I’ve only found joy in associating with you. It’s been...”
“Are you ok?”
“It’s been the happiest years of my life. I extend my heartfelt gratitude. I wish to spend many more with you, if you’ll have me.”
“...How in the world could you think I wouldn’t? I can’t imagine a future wit-- Are you crying, Eveline? What’s that wet sensation on my chest!?”
“Of course I’m crying, you oaf! This is by far the most embarrassing thing I’ve done in my life! I never thought I’d-- Towards a man, towards you, I’d--!”
“Oh, cool, then we’re both on the same page here, can we stop cuddling it out now? It’s really freaking embarrassing, and if anyone saw us--”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“Oh what.”
“...We’ll stay like this for a bit longer. No objections, right? I-I... Wish to hold onto you for a bit longer. In fact, as heir to the Stanasila house, I order you to hug me tightly with your arms. Do you wish to become a criminal?”
“You’re going to kill me.”
“...Hmhm...”
“...Hey, Lin?”
“Yes?”
“I admire you and like you a lot. You’re the best.”
“I know.”
“Well...”
“Don’t pout, silly. I merely tease. I feel exactly the same way about you. I’m happy I met you.”
Atop the tallest tree by the lakeside, the duo that has only competed, argued, and laughed about different contests and pranks learned that, in peace and silence, they still are drawn to each other in different ways than usual. Their tight embrace and almost imperceptible caresses lasted until sundown, and night did pry them apart, perhaps the harshest farewell they ever shared, the hug lasting until the tips of their fingers came apart at last, each going their way, he to the town, she to the castle. But until that time came, they held each other the dearest they ever held anyone. Reuben missed the soft, warm body pressed against his chest that night, and Eveline ached from the lack of his strong arms wrapped around her until morning.
———
“...Milady Eveline, I understand you’re entranced, but it’s His Lordship and Her Highness.”
“Ah? My apologies, Skender, I was spacing out. What is this about Father and Mother?”
“Please keep your bearings, but the purple blood is back.”
Eveline put down her pen and faced the butler. Correspondence could wait.
“...Nonsense. Father and Mother are strong, their impulses easily kept in check. They shan’t go feral just like that. The last three times the purple blood has come, they managed to subdue it, did they not? Why would it be different this time? Name one other vampire that has kept the purple blood in check not once, not twice, but thrice.”
“I understand and share your pride for the Lord and Lady Stanasila, but it could be the tenth time and this should still be a reason for concern. What worries me the most is that the Mesterul Festival is occurring tomorrow.”
Eveline tilted her head slightly, placing one finger against her lips. “...Enlighten me, Skender. I admit I don’t quite get the implication.”
“Ahh, youth... She was incapable of admitting ignorance or error in the past. That human lad sure has had a positive influence in her...” the elderly butler thought to himself with a smile before returning to the real world. “Ahem... The festival means a lot of humans will be grouped together in one place. The powerful scent of all that blood together might make things worse for the purple blood. And unlike the previous times, the blood seems to be very potent this time. The Lord and Lady lay bedridden and locked in a room, by their own order.”
“...”
Eveline’s poise was unbreakable, but her face was evidently a mask of concern. Putting away her pen and ink, the young lady prepared her stroll dress with haste. “Skender, make sure no effort is spared in trying to contain the purple blood. I’ll go to town and tell them to postpone the festival. It’s lamentable, but we can’t risk having so many humans together in the main plaza with my parents like this. Plus, we can simply hold it later. Go! We’ve still got time until tomorrow, but we must act quickly!”
“Yes, Milady! Godspeed! Shall I prepare a horse?”
“Nay. I will run there. It’s faster.”
———
A small cauldron boiled in the kitchen of the modest house, the broth’s aroma torturing the hungry Reuben, who currently exercised a zen-like level of restraint. “Must not eat the stew... Must not eat the stew... Gotta wait for everyone to come back first.” Just when he was about to break his promise with a traitorous bowl, someone knocked the door, snapping him out of the dangerous stew trance.
“Coming! Oh, Lin, hey! How are you doing? What are y--”
“Ru, no time, where’s uncle and auntie?” The fear in the eyes of the vampire was pristine, something Reuben never had seen before. “Ru, hurry, we haven’t time to waste.”
“Wh-what’s going on? They are at the main plaza, helping with festival preparations with the rest of the townspeople. I-I’m back early because I was helping in the morning and I finished my workload, don’t think I’m just being lazy here!”
“...Wait.” Eveline’s voice cracked. “The... Rest of the people? They are all at the plaza!? Right now!?”
The usually calm features of the fair maiden were distorted unlike ever before. Her red eyes were wide open and welling with tears, staring at the ground, as if a horrid realization had just struck her, her hands shaking, her lips trembling.
“Lin, what’s wrong? Calm down, this isn’t like you.”
“How could I calm down when--!” she finally snapped, fangs bared in her frustration, her usual ladylike demeanor chucked out of the window. “...I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell, but Ru, listen to me, this is very important. Do not leave this house until morning. Turn off all the lights, and put out that fire.”
“But that’s dinner for when my folks and sister get ba--”
“Reuben, please.” He’d never seen her so forceful and panicked before. Whatever it is that had Eveline like this had to be serious. “Just trust me, for the love of anything you hold dear, trust me. This is life or death. I’ll go to the plaza now, just turn everything off and hide.”
“...Got it. I have no idea what’s going on, but... Don’t you dare die, or I will never forgive you.”
Finally, her features relaxed just a little, and her lips curved into a kind, warm smile. “Of course not, silly.” The vampire took a bold step forward and hugged her friend tightly and closely, secretly wishing this wouldn’t be the last time.
“There’s no time. Hide.”
With the strength of a bomb, Eveline leaped towards the plaza, leaving a crater where she jumped from, disappearing from sight instantly, doing away with the idiotic notion of “wishing” and instead applying her mind to “making damn sure to protect this happiness so that wouldn’t be the last time”.
She had to make it in time. She had to.
———
“What...?”
In front of Reuben lay the ruins of the main plaza. Where once stood a beautiful statue of a past Lord Stanasila now only rubble rested. The fountain, the myriad of colorful stands, the ice cream shop, the park slide and swing set... All gone, pulverized, wrecked, and demolished, as if a meteor had struck overnight. The ruined plaza would’ve been enough to tug at the hearts of any Mesterulian, but it’s the not destroyed childhood memories that almost made the young man hurl, it was the bloodstains and the nondescript chunks of flesh and meat that dotted this horrible scene.
“What happened here...?”
“Young man... Ah, you’re the Hopfer’s kid, no?” an elderly lady spoke from behind, startling the confused Reuben.
“What happened here? What is this?”
“...The Lord and Lady Stanasila succumbed to the purple blood. It was when were all putting the finishing touched to the festival that they leaped at us like starved wolves. Against their speed and strength, we stood no chance. It was a massacre.”
“No way... Then... Then, where’s--”
The old lady hugged the crying man. “The Hopfers didn’t make it. They died making sure your sister got away. They were going to attack her and some other people trying to escape, when the Young Lady intercepted them. I’m so sorry, young one.”
“What...? Eveline?”
“Indeed. She managed to make it, and she held them off so everyone could escape. She fought bravely, focusing her everything on defending people until they were sufficiently far away. I was watching from the distance, and when it was finally just the three of them in the plaza, so fought to kill... And kill them, she did.”
Reuben fell to his knees, salty streaks trailing down his face. Whatever he said next was an inaudible, incomprehensible blubber. The world darkened around him, and his consciousness took a break.
———
Days later...
The town was still undergoing its reconstruction effort. The stains and such had already been cleaned, but most of the rubble was still there. It was an effort the town underwent together. Every able man and woman, no matter their age, helped out. The way of Mesterul had always been one of cooperation, as one would expect from a rural town far away from everything, but never had it rung more true than now.
Midst the crowd, Reuben labored, clearing away rubble and moving his cart here and there, doing heavy lifting, getting this to him and that to her. Reuben labored, as it was the only thing that drowned the screaming in his mind and dulled the pangs of his heart. Reuben labored, closing his ears to the whispers that followed him everywhere he went.
“Isn’t he really close to the vampire...?” “Tsk... It’s those damn vampire’s fault this happened, he’s got a lot of nerve showing his face.” “You think he’s telling her about who survived so she can swoop down and devour the rest of us?” “No doubt... Trying to save his own skin by selling all of us out...”
It had been days, and Reuben labored, labored, and labored. He knew the truth. He knew what happened and how it happened, but he understood it’d be futile to try and make them understand. Logic and fear are odd companions, after all. His concerns lay elsewhere: He’d not seen Eveline at all after the tragedy.
He’d waited some days by the lakeside windmill, where they spent their childhood together, but she never appeared.
He’d forsaken sleep some days, for maybe she’d show up under the cover of night to not call attention to herself, but she never appeared.
He’d visited the gate to Castle Nefartatul, but the gates never opened, none of the usual woodsmen that were near the gate were there to pass on a message, and she never appeared.
She simply never appeared.
Another day of work complete, another day of sore muscles and conflicted feelings. After checking in with his sister, who was staying with some neighbors that offered to care for her, Reuben headed home, to that torture chamber that was too big for one person to live in.
Reuben labored ceaselessly, as it was the only thing he could do. Preparing a humble ‘meal’ of water and bread, Reuben went to bed, as the next day, more labor awaited him. Trying to fall into the realm of dreams was much harder than usual, and it was less “sleeping” and more “collapsing from exhaustion when his body could no longer handle it anymore”. And so, he waited for his consciousness to give up.
He was about to fade out when he heard a familiar, particular clacking of shoes on the border of his window. His body shot up, and his blue gaze met Eveline’s red own, clad in her usual red and black dress, bathed in moonlight as she stood on the window frame.
“...Greetings, Reuben.”
“Eveline...! Lin! Where... Where were you all these days!? Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?”
The dame of the night gasped. This wasn’t the reception she expected. “I’m... Fine, but are you sure you should--”
No more words came out of her mouth before the man launched himself at her and caught her in the sloppiest, most desperate hug, pressing her tight and close as if she was a priceless treasure, tears flowing from his eyes and onto her hair. “You’re alive, oh, lords, you are alright... Lin, where were you...?”
That was it. Whatever resilience the vampire had, whatever mental preparation she underwent before finally coming here, whatever clay mask of indifference she was wearing, ready and bracing for the worst possible reaction from the young man melted. This embrace disarmed her of it all, of her mask, of her poise, of her noblesse oblige, of everything. She clung to him and pressed her face against his collarbone, crying her eyes out and sobbing, her lithe frame trembling.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Ru! I-I was utterly afraid of coming here. I didn’t know how you were going to react, what things you’d say to me, because I couldn’t save them, I couldn’t save uncle and auntie and so many more, I was too weak, I... Was so afraid...!”
Her words were clear, but there was obviously more layers to them. She was afraid of his reaction, she was afraid he’d hate her, she was afraid during the tragedy in itself, having to fight tooth and nail against her own frenzied parents, she was afraid of the townspeople, who she couldn’t save, she was afraid of the vacant look on her father and mother’s corpses, as they finally found peace at her hands, she was afraid she’d be next, and that she’d be the next to feast upon the townspeople she loved so dearly. She was afraid, so very afraid, and this finally could find a way out her chest as she cried the hardest she’d ever bawled, barely being able to remain on her feet, shaking violently, her resilience finally reaching the final point. Human or vampire, man or woman, townie or royalty, in the end, we are all people, and people have a limit. it’s the price that comes with having a conscience.
Some minutes passed, Reuben simply stroked her head as she let it all out and composed herself, not lacking tears himself, until her breathing wasn’t as haphazard anymore.
“...You don’t need to apologize, Lin.”
“...Huh?” the girl muttered in confusion, looking at him in the face again. “...Of course I have to, it was my parents that...! Uncle and auntie...! You should hate me! Why are you embracing me when you should be attacking me, insulting me! You have every right to do so!”
“Do I? Lin, I admit this is all hard, I’m extremely sad, I miss my parents... But I am sure you’re the same.”
“Reuben, shut up!” yelled the vampire, pushing him away as her arms turned dark red.
“How do you expect me to see you as guilty if you came here first thing that night to warn me and make sure we were alright!?”
Her only response as furious snarl, pearl white fangs bared, as she pointed at Reuben with a red arm, a myriad of bloody tendrils missing his body by just a hair’s breadth.
“Are you done?” replied Reuben, undaunted, walking towards Eveline. “You came as soon as you realized something was wrong. You fought for us, and you killed... You killed your own parents for our sake! Who the hell in their right mind could hate you!?”
“This wouldn’t have happened if we weren’t monsters! Frenzied beasts wearing the skin of humans!”
“Monsters don’t save an entire town with great personal sacrifice, you idiot! You want me to hate you, but you’ll never have that. You may be furious at yourself right now, but I know you did the best you could and things would be worse if you hadn’t! Stop trying to take responsibility, darn it!”
“What else... Am I supposed to do, Reuben!”
“Restore peace and assume the mantle of the head of house Stanasila, as you should. Mopping will only bring further problems. They know, Eveline. There’s certainly people that are furious, but for every one of them, another person saw you kill you own blood for their sake. You’re no monster, you’re our savior.”
And she plummeted. She couldn’t take it anymore. With a faint whisper, the blood retracted back to her pale arms. “Heh... You... Somehow keep outdoing me and yourself, Reuben... It’s terrifying.”
“Only because I had a rival that kept me on shape.”
Eveline smiled at that reply, and she stood once more. “I apologize, I am... Not too stable right now, a lot has happened, but... I am very happy to see that you are fine and that, well, you don’t hate me. I wouldn’t have known what to do if you did.”
Reuben simply chuckled. “I am just glad you’re ok. I really assumed the worst when the days passed and I didn’t know a thing of you.”
“I... Also came for another reason, however. Reuben, I want to hand you this.”
The vampire’s hand clutched a large spike-shaped object wrapped in linen cloth. Upon seizing it, Reuben could tell from the shape and how it felt in his hand that is was stake, hard and solid.
“...What is this?” he inquired, puzzled at the object, albeit with certain suspicion, only fueled by the serious expression on the vampire’s face.
“That’s a brass stake. I had it specially made in the last few days.” she explained as she too in a deep breath.
“This is too light for its size and material... It’s hollow, isn’t it?” -- Reuben shook the stake, a light rattling sound coming out of it -- “What’s inside?”
“Heh, sharp as ever, Ru. Indeed, the grip is hollow. Inside the stake rests one of my fangs, imbued with as much power as I could grant it.” Saying this, Eveline tugged at her mouth with a single finger, revealing a missing lower fang. “...Vampires were once the enemies of humanity, and our bloodlust is ingrained in us on the genetic level. It’s been several generations since hostilities have ceased, and some vampire clans, such as mine, have dedicated themselves to living with and protecting humans instead. With each passing generation, this genetic bloodlust is curbed further, but it sadly has a chance to surface nonetheless... This is the Purple Blood.”
“...That’s what happened with His Lordship and Her Highness, then?”
“Indeed. It is possible to stave it off, and it is inconsistent as to whether it shall surface or not. My grandmother, for example, showed no signs of it whatsoever, but my parents were afflicted with it thrice. Once you succumb to the Purple Blood, that’s that, you become a Frenzied Vampire, eternally looking for living creatures to feast upon. All reason is lost, and we enter into a berserker state where the senses, smell excepted, are dulled, and instinct takes over. Frenzied Vampires recognize each other via vampiric power, registering it as an ally or, more correctly, not a source of food.”
“...Wait, so this stake imbued with your power would render me effectively invisible to a Frenzied Vampire?”
“Correct. I want to entrust this to you.”
Reuben’s brow twitched. “...Are you telling me to run away?”
But Eveline simply chuckled. “Perish the thought. I mean, I want you to, with that as safeguard, knowing that if I ever succumb, I’d spare you, but you’d never agree to that, so instead, I want you to have that stake, so when the day comes that I succumb, you will use it to kill me.”
The young man gasped, horror filling his eyes. “K-kill you!? Lin, I could never--!”
“Reuben, please.” Eveline’s voice was soft and tinged with sorrow, but resolute, as if woven of the same steel her noble demeanor had to it. “No other vampires remain here. If I succumb, there’s no one to defend the town. No residents of the castle come even close to matching me in power. Only one person in this world has ever matched me pound by pound, whether it be throwing stones across a lake, climbing the tallest trees, and in everything else: You. Were I to succumb, only you would be able to find a way to kill me. I know this.”
“...” Reuben simply gripped the linen cloth pouch and looked at it. He understood its profundity, and that of her words. She made sense. She was here when her parents succumbed, and the damage was still grave. What if she were to succumb next? Mesterul wouldn’t last a night. This wasn’t only sound logic, it was the only option.
“I understand this is a selfish and unreasonable demand, so don’t feel forced. I can think of something--”
“I’ll do it. I promise, with every pang that ails my heart, to end you should you succumb to the Purple Blood.” He said this not valiantly, not gallantly, but almost as if pledging guilty at the tribunal. “If you place this much trust in me, I can’t have it go to waste.”
A bittersweet smile adorned Eveline’s lips. “...Thank you so very much, Ru, I--”
But at that moment, the man, with a jolly, bold stride, took three steps forward, crossing the room in an instant, face to face with Eveline. Cupping her beautiful face with his two hands, he inched forward and kissed her lips, a long, heated, disarming kiss that sent thunderbolts down the vampire’s spine.
“...! Wh--!”
“...But I have my terms. I’ll only do this if you let me help you try to stave it off. I’ll only do this if I can see you. I’ll only do this if you won’t distance yourself from the world, afraid of your own power, spending day after day wondering when your time’s going to be up, isolated and deprived of joy simply to protect others. You’re the kind of fool who’d do that, and I won’t allow it!”
“Ru, I... Gosh, but...”
“I love you, Eveline. I want to be with you every day of my life. I love you so much that I cannot stand the thought of you isolating yourself like that from the world -- from me. You made a selfish request, well, here’s my selfish condition.”
“...Again, please. Kiss me again.”
And so he kissed her again. And she asked again. And he kissed her again. And again. And again. And again. And again. Inexperienced kisses, clumsy tongues intertwining, teeth clashing, awkward positioning of their faces, and lots of little giggles. Inexperienced kisses, clumsy kisses, delightful kisses. Her wings, usually kept well hidden, unfurled during these clumsy kisses, wrapping around Reuben as if to pull him even closer, closing them off to the rest of the world.
“...Hehe... Wow... We suck at this...”
“...Hmhm, well, you know... This only means we have to practice more, don’t we?”
And so she kissed him now. And again. And again. And again.
———
Back in the present day...
Silence.
It was broken.
“...It’s been two hours now, I think we need to get going.” the woodsman commented, his embrace on the vampire still tight. “...Whatcha thinking about?”
“Merely remembering the past.”
“...Yeah, same here.”
She smiled and gave him a peck in the mouth. “Quite some things happened, hm?”
“Plenty, but here we are now... I’m glad I could come live here after that.”
“Hmph! I offered you a life of decadence when I extended my invitation, but you insisted on working to earn your keep! Legions would sacrifice it all for an opportunity like that, and yet you let it go!”
“Well, duh! All the people back in town were breaking their backs with the reconstruction efforts, it would’ve been downright terrible if I had simply come here to live off your coat tails!”
“Hehe... Indeed, it’s just like you. Now, I regret to inform you that you must let me go. I must finish writing that letter for Leticia.”
“Right-o, and I have to get the logs back.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll carry them on the way back, you just focus on the fence for now... Though, be a darling and leave a little opening.”
Reuben simply chuckled. “Will do. I bet the kids will be happy.”
He held her no longer, as correspondence is a very important part of vampire life, and tardiness could lead to worry. Vampire clans keep a healthy line of correspondence running at all times, that way, they can keep in contact and, more importantly, know for sure that their relatives and friends haven’t succumbed to the Purple Blood. No correspondence arriving in too long is usually an ill omen. Eveline wouldn’t want to concern her cousin Leticia so.
Tools in hand, a grin and a stretch, Reuben got to working on the fence.
But as she walked away, a sly grin peeked out of Eveline’s face...
———
“...What in the world happened here!?”
Reuben’s room had been wrecked. Claw marks, punch holes, and soot decorated the once-extravagant room. The windows were torn apart, the mirror shattered, and the bed a pincushion for invisible needles, riddled with holes.
“Ah! Ru! Terrible, terrible news!” Eveline yelled with faked exasperation. “An unknown assailant has thrashed your room! Egads... How could this happen? Skender shall atone for this lack of security!”
Reuben pinched the bridge of his nose. “...These holes are the size of your fists. The holes on the bed are just the width of your blood tendrils. The claw markings match the distance between your fingers, and the soot... What the hell did you use for these!? You could’ve burned the whole castle!”
The vampire lady simply averted her sight and puckered her lips as she nervously twirled one of her golden locks. “E-eh, what might you be insinuating? W-why would I do something like this? An assailant of unknown origins did it!”
“I can see the dirt of your shoes from when you stood on top of the glassware cabinet in order reach these spots up here, Eveline.”
“Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Nonsense! Human nonsense! Why are you so human, Reuben? Haha!”
“You better get explaining, or I swear to the lords, I’ll--”
“Ah, look at the time! It’s quite late, we should be getting to bed, since we have business in town tomorrow, remember? It’d be foolish not to be at our peak condition, don’t you think?”
Reuben simply squinted and then let out a sigh. “...Whatever, I’ll take one of the guest rooms, but know that I will get you back for this.”
“No! You can’t do that! It’d be unbecoming for a man of Stanasila to use a guest room! Deplorable! You are much more than that!”
“...Then I’ll just go see my sis in town, and we can meet at the plaza tomorrow in the morning.”
“No!” -- she yelled even louder now -- “Absolutely not! It’s... Too late, yes, and the horses, they all died suddenly! You have no way to get there!”
“Wait, wait, no, don’t tell me you actually--”
“T-they haven’t died suddenly yet! But they just might, depending on your actions!”
“Uuuuuuurgh! Ok, fine, what do you want, what it the plan, Milady Eveline Izabel Stanasila?”
“Urk!” she gulped, as it was clear he was really mad. “W-well, given the circumstances, there’s no other choice for you other than to sleep in my room tonight.”
“...You did all of this for--”
“Well, let’s get going! Yawn! I am spent!”
“ .”
———
The master room of Castle Nefartatul knew no comparison. Marble pillars, intricate engravings, and the Stanasila family crest emblazoned on large purple banners were only the beginning of just how decadent this vault of indulgences and luxury got. In the far back, the massive bed looked like the centerpiece treasure in a trove of priceless relics.
“Alright, we shall set some ground rules, but first... I want you to have this, Reuben.”
Eveline extended her pale hand towards Reuben, and in it, a graceful, gorgeous, ornate bouquet of gladioli shined like a gem.
“Woah, when did you pick these...? It’s gorgeous!” Reuben gasped,
“Hmhm... In the language of flowers, gladiolus, or the ‘sword lily’, represents strength and moral integrity, two of the many gifts you gave me by being in my life, and... They represent infatuation, a bouquet conveying to a recipient that they pierce the giver's heart with passion. All of this is accurate as to how I feel, Reuben. I love you with every fiber of my being, to the point it hurts. So, please accept it.”
Reuben was simply overcome with the bouquet, holding it close and looking at it for a long time. “That’s not fair, Lin, you can’t just ambush me like this, haha...”
“I must keep you on your toes at all times, don’t I? It’s how we’ve always done things. Now, I’ll draw a line with blood magic. You are not allowed to cross the line, alright? Should you do so, immense pain shall course through your bones. I intend to make clear which boundaries we mustn’t interlope on.
“Yeah, you do that...” the infatuated man answered, his focus still in the bouquet. “...Wait a second, why blood magic? We can just put a pillow on the center to separate the bed in half, we don’t need to-- Oh you gotta be kidding me.”
“...Who said anything about separating the bed~?”
Once Reuben finally looked at his surroundings, he noticed that Eveline had drawn a circle of blood magic around the bed, making it impossible for him to leave. He now was imprisoned on the bed.
“...Lin, wh-what are you--”
“The bouquet was but a distraction, dear Ru. You lose this one... Though, I did mean every word of it, make no mistake, hmhm.”
The vampire casually did away with her garments, leaving her only in her frilly underwear, her splendid, gorgeous body exposed for her dear Ru to take in, stretching as if to flaunt her curves shamelessly. Then, she approached the exasperated woodsman, mounting him without any reservation.
“...Lin, you can’t be serious, you tricked me!”
Her lips twisted into a sweet, devilish smile. “Well, see, dear Ru, our little close quarters in the bush earlier today left me... Wanting. It is only right to satisfy my hunger, no? And you have been having those nightmares as of late, no? We can’t be having that, no sir. So, I thought of a solution to both of our problems!”
“And t-that is?”
“I simply must make sure you don’t sleep a wink tonight. You can’t have nightmares if you stay awake drowning in the throes of carnal pleasure, now, can you? Oh, beloved Ru... You look delicious right now.” Eveline flirted, shimmering red eyes invading his blue own, her hips already rocking.
“Oh, lords.”
They did not sleep at all that night, those kooky lovers.
...They missed their appointment in town the next day, as neither could move in the morning...
-- The End --