within the cathedral walls ꫂ᭪ heli
heli finds you wandering the cathedral at night, but why? what's your motive? and why do you know more than you should?
༝༚༝༚
𝑒𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 ㅤ♡ heli x witch!reader ㅤ♡ not following the anime, decelis-only au ㅤ♡ suggestive romance ㅤ♡ 1.2k words ㅤ♡ a/n i know most people don't know about this anime (dark moon: the blood altar), but i wouldn't call it niche. i'm not an enhypen stan or anything, i just really like the anime–this is an experiment so if another part is preferred, do tell. ㅤo n e s h o t
Vampires were renowned for being horrid creatures. One bite could drain you entirely or turn you into a mindless beast. That was the story among humans, anyway.
The Coven knew better.
You knew better.
“I hope you’ll find your time here very useful. As you know, Decelis operates as a night school, so classes start at 21:00.”
“Forgive me for asking,” you said, “but I heard about the murder a few days ago. Was it truly a vampire attack?”
Draped across the exterior corridor was moonlight and stars, the sky, a shade of deep sapphire. “I understand your concern, Lady Noirmont, and though we do not know the specifics of the case, I can assure you, there are no vampires lurking within our academy walls. You are safe here.”
You smiled, “Of course, I don’t doubt it.”
The Headmistress led you through the castle's first floor and up three flights of stairs. “East Wing is strictly forbidden to female students after sunset, as is West to the male students.”
“Understood.”
“Good.” She stopped in front of a large, rickety door. “Well then, this is your room, most of our students have roommates, but you got lucky.”
Yes, how very lucky.
“I’ll leave you to get settled in for the night. Classes begin tomorrow, if you’d like dinner tonight, there are meals prepped in the cafeteria.”
You pressed your lips into a smile that didn’t feel quite right and nodded. When the Headmistress stalked off, you entered your room. It wasn’t dusty, but it certainly wasn’t new either. Perfect for studying, but studying wasn’t on your list of priorities.
The inside of Decelis was cold and confined. Stained glass windows showed just a bit of the darkness that lay beyond them. A chill ran up your spine as you headed back down to the first floor. If it’d been one thing you’d learned from the history books, it was that blood and midnight never mixed.
Torches lit your pathway down grand stairwells. The cathedral wasn't far from the end, it couldn’t be if the academy wanted students to remember to spend some time inside before breakfast.
You paused outside of the church archway, the large, concrete door ajar, revealing a gloomy interior. A sound—like the flipping of a book page––pulled you forward.
“It’s late.” You jumped at the voice above your ears. He’s so fast. The male student chuckled, “Sorry, I couldn't help myself.”
“What are you doing down here?” His eyes narrowed playfully, but you were absolutely serious.
“Could ask you the same thing, couldn’t I?”
You swallowed, hand gripping the back of the closest pew. “I asked first.”
“I don’t recognize you.”
“I’m new. Answer my question.”
He stepped forward, cornering you against the pew. “Hey—back up—
“You must know about them too, then.”
“What?” Your eyebrows furrowed.
He looked over your shoulder, cross earring catching in the light of the candles surrounding the throne. “The secret passages.” His head dropped to the side, “That’s why you’re down here, isn’t it?”
“I see.” A sigh of relief escaped you and you nodded. “Yes. I’m looking for them as well.”
He smiled, almost like he knew something you didn’t. It was unnerving. “I think I found one. Come have a look.”
Your breath caught when his fingers wrapped around your wrist. His touch burned, like he’d spread fire across his hand before grabbing you. “What—” You froze, eyes catching on the part of the cathedral wall that cracked open. “How’d you find this?”
Heli shrugged, “I’ve spent a long time at Decelis.”
“You mean all five years?” You ran your fingers down the intricate design of the separated concrete, “That’s a long time to be in one place, Heli.”
He side-eyed you and whatever question he'd been about to voice died before it reached his lips. “Yes, well I’m not fond of moving.”
“There are books—” you stalked further into the room, fingering the different titles. Your gaze skated across each leather-bound spine, searching for one that was not present. You bit your lip and bent forward, searching the bottom shelves. It had to be here somewhere. They’d said just as much. Maybe it was in another passageway? Of course, finding the old thing couldn’t be as easy as this, could it?
“Let me ask you something.”
You shrugged, keeping your attention on the shelves. “Go on, then.”
He opened his mouth just as you spun around, raising your arm the second he wrapped his palm around your throat. You felt a smirk curve your lips upward. “How is it you know my name?”
“Some interesting features you’ve got there, Heli.”
“Answer.” He growled, shoving you back against the bookshelf.
You braced yourself, but your grin never wavered. “I wouldn’t be so loud, you never know who’s listening.” A dim, purple light emanated from your palm. It was quick, the normal person wouldn’t have caught it. But Heli wasn’t normal, or a person, was he?
His blood red eyes widened as his body shot backward against the opposite shelf. His nails left scratch marks around your neck as they dragged across your throat. Your bleeding was faint, but damn did it sting.
‘What is this?’
‘Telepathy? How cute.’
‘Who are you?’
‘You don’t need to know that right now. Just be a good little vampire and tell me one thing…’ You lowered yourself so that you were face to face. His fangs throbbed as if to threaten. You relaxed your hold on his body and his shoulders sagged forward slightly. You were close, close enough to bite. But you weren’t worried about that. The old blood oath should've prevented it. At least, that's what history claimed. But he had cut you…
Whether centuries had weakened the old magic... you weren’t eager to find out.
‘What do you want?’
‘How many of you are there?’
‘What?’
‘How many vampires at Decelis, keep up.’
‘Just me.’
You clicked your tongue and shook your head, ‘Liar.’ “If you want me to leave you alone, I’m going to need you to be honest with me.”
Heli’s eyes narrowed, but the second he tried moving, your energy reached out and held him in place. You raised an eyebrow and titled your head. His breathing was heavy, it was odd. A strong urge to study his attributes pulled at your heart. You had never met someone from the First Bloodline, he was your first, and for a young witch, that was special.
“I won’t hurt you or them. I have my own business to attend to here, but I can’t have any others catching me off guard, can I?”
A crease in his forehead appeared, visible only by the candle lantern. “What are you?” He breathed, wincing as your energy caressed his cheek. He was gorgeous. Black hair against stark, pale skin, and deep pools of blood for eyes, the very picture of a storybook vampire.
“Don’t you remember your mother?”
“Mother?” He spat, eyes narrowing. “I don’t have a mother.”
“Well, I guess, your creator would be more accurate—” you shook your head. “The logistics are terribly dull. I already passed history.” Your eyes skated across his, “Just tell me, ‘Did you or any of your friends kill that girl?’
He swallowed, ‘You can use telepathy too.’
‘We’ve been over this, can you just answer already? I’m getting impatient.’
‘No.’ He ground out, pulling his face away from yours, ‘We had nothing to do with that girl. We don’t—” he growled when you restricted his movement, loving the way he struggled. “We have rules.”
“Rules?” you echoed, tilting your head. Your finger traced the line of his jaw—not affectionately, but with the detached curiosity of someone examining an unfamiliar specimen. “Do tell.”
𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞
a/n lol, do we like the silent nod to the first a/n?