He didn't ask about what drugs were in Rei's system but Isko was starting to feel them now. He hummed in response, gently tucking her hair behind her ear before he touched her cheek. Her skin felt soft too but it wasn't warm like he remembered it to be. "And shiny," he agreed, watching the way the light caught the dress. Carmen's outfit was built to reflect the light and now it bounced around her as well. If she was still clinging onto him after the ferris wheel, he would agree to a dance and lose her in the crowd again.
He was pulled along without argument, too distracted by the party around them to notice how eager Carmen was for his attention tonight. She didn't really have it, he was already wondering where Rei was. He had promised not to leave again but part of him expected it of him. He chuckled at her impatience, wrapping an arm around her waist like he used to. "You need to learn patience, Carmen," he warned her. "Look, we're already moving up in the line," he pointed out, shuffling them a few steps closer.
@reiremington for after the read more~
Carmen:
“I am patient.” Carmen corrected, “I waited for you this whole time and here you are.” She smiled and it was unclear if she was intending to be as unsettling as her words sounded. She turned slightly, her turn to push a dark strand of hair back from his face. “Now I have you back.” She said, lingering for a moment before the intensity dipped. “Did you manage to speak to your witch friend?” Carmen asked curiously instead as they steadily moved up the line, Carmen remaining within the loop of Isko’s arm and she found herself tracing absent patterns into the skin. When they reached the front, the attendee let them into one of the empty cars and secured the doors behind them.
Isko:
"I doubt that," he said with a laugh. A spoiled young creature like her was never going to be patient, not in life or death. The word's didn't stick how they should have, making it easy for the vampire to ignore the desperate way she still clung to him. Isko was back in her life but he had no plans on being with a vampire, unable to see the benefit it would provide.
"Rei?" He answered, his brow furrowing. When did he tell her about Rei? His mind was a little slow with the influence of said witch's blood but then it clicked. "The sun ring, right." Admittedly the vampire had forgotten about it but it was easier to get than Carmen likely understood. "It takes some time for enchanting but it shouldn't be too much longer," he lied easily. Next time he saw her, he knew he'd have to show up with it but that was a problem for the future.
Carmen:
Carmen vaguely recognised the name as someone she had met before, but put very little stock into any connection there might have been. “Well that’s okay, I don’t need it for now.” She reassured, “For now, maybe you could come and see me instead?” She suggested, winding her fingers into the front of his outfit to pull him closer to her. “My father never noticed before… you could do it again.” Carmen murmured.
Isko:
Isko needed to get in better control of his tongue. Whatever Rei had taken was stronger than he had thought. It was easier to forget what he was meant to be doing or what he was hiding. He chuckled, the words sounding funnier with the fuzzy feeling in his head. "Where would I come see you?" he asked, curious to how this fairy tale played out in her thought. He couldn't visit her at work or at her home and he didn't want to, unwilling to risk his probation for her. "And if I get caught, I'd go back to Zamok. Is that what you want, little bird?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. His hand cupped the back of her neck, tilting her head up as his grip tightened. He would not be going back to Zamok, not for her.
Carmen:
“You could come to the house—“ Carmen’s lips parted to continue, but quickly closed, her brow furrowing instead as she considered Isko’s words. She definitely didn’t want to see him in trouble and definitely not back in prison because of her. Then how would she ever get to see him? Her eyes focused entirely on Isko when he took hold of the back of her neck. “Of course not.” She reassured him. “I could come and see you instead?” She suggested, “We could share someone again,” Carmen suggested, curling her body closer to his. “And you could teach me some more about being a vampire. Unless… well, I did meet another vampire here tonight. I could ask him instead, if you’re too busy.”
Isko:
Even as a vampire, Carmen still was a little girl who had always had everything catered to her. She was spoilt but trapped and now she was trapped for all eternity. At least she couldn't blame him for that in a hundred years time. "Good, because that would be very selfish of you. I'm not allowed to be near you at all and I'm already risking jail time to spend time with you," he said. Her endless chatter was starting to mess up his high but the mention of yet another vampire brought his full attention back to her. "Is that what you are going to do to me Carmen?" he asked, tightening his grip on her neck. "Every time you don't get your own way, you'll run off and find another vampire to replace me?" he questioned.
Carmen:
There was something like a pout on her lips when Isko accused her of being selfish. There was a large part of her that desperately wanted to reassure him that she would never do anything to put him in danger of going back to prison and another, far quieter part, that told her to ask whatever she wanted of him, take whatever she wanted, because she could now. It wasn’t as though he could really hurt her anymore, why couldn’t she demand of him when he had taken so much from her without asking? Still, those thoughts dwindled somewhere buried beneath many others, lost within the chaos of all her thoughts, all competing with one other to see which one would win. “But you do want to spend time with me, don’t you?” She asked instead, not taking her eyes off of him as his grip tightened, dutiful to him as ever. “They were nice! I think you’d like him. You said I should be independent, so I started talking to other vampires. There was a man I met the other day at the library, he said I should talk to somebody called Isabelle, too.” She continued, but seemed to soften the longer she spent staring into his eyes, “I would never replace you.” She murmured, “You’re perfect.”
Isko:
He could see that selfishness in her eyes, still the same young girl he'd met decades ago. The privileged rich girl wanted to stamp her foot and have him at her beck and call but he wouldn't allow himself to be controlled that way. The vampire's expression remained neutral but he nodded. "Would I be here if I didn't want to spend time with you? I thought we could enjoy the ferris wheel and get some photos so you can take them home with you." Little did Carmen know but Isko was unlikely to enjoy the company of another vampire. There was only one real exception to that rule, aside from Carmen now as well. "I want you to be independent because your father is controlling you," he explained, his voice gentler now to appease her. The last thing he wanted was Carmen ending up in some sister cult and trying to kill him. "It sounds like you want to replace me. Maybe I should let you..." the vampire sighed, relenting his grip on her neck and returning his hands to his side. "You'd be happier with someone new."
Carmen:
“Can’t I do that with the help of some other vampires? Aren’t we supposed to join clan’s eventually? I could learn something from them and leave my mother and father.” Carmen said, though her curiosity was cut short as Isko continued with his guilt trip. It worked and she felt guilty for ever having brought it up and for making him feel like she was replacing him. “No!” She insisted, grabbing his hand as he drew back from her, “I won’t talk to anyone else, I promise. Just you. You make me happy.” Her hands moved, cupping his face to bring his gaze back to her. “I love you.”
Isko:
"Isn't that just leaving one cage for another?," he answered. It didn't sound like freedom to him, to have someone above you and telling you what you can and can't do. That just sounded like prison and Isko had already endured that experience once. The change was quick, from a stubborn rich girl to the ever needy and adoring he'd trained her to be. It wasn't the first time that he'd heard Carmen declare her love but she had been human and warm. Now the words sounded desperate and cold, much like her hands. He had liked her so much better when she was still human. He tilted his head up and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Come on, it's our turn for the ride," he prompted.
Taking the hand she had held onto him with, he lead her inside the ferris wheel carriage and pulled her into his side. The vampire draped his arm over her shoulders, absently playing with her soft hair again. Now they were alone in the quiet carriage, he could feel that restless energy from Rei's blood returning. "Do you want to play with the photobooth?" he asked. After all his mistreatment of her that night, Isko knew he had to return to being sweet or else she'd go wandering off for some new vampire to toy with and Isko didn't like people playing with his things.
Carmen:
Carmen felt like she’d been in one cage or another her entire life and it left her searching Isko’s face for answers that never came. But then his lips were pressing to her forehead and he was guiding her inside the ferris wheel car. She sat down, still programmed to enjoy the feel of his arm around she shoulder and the fingers sliding in her hair. “Okay.” She conceded, a small smile touching her lips, before she turned her attention to the Photo Booth screen in front of them. She tapped at the screen, selecting a few different options until the camera came up, ready with a count down to take their pictures.
Isko:
He felt torn between wanting Carmen to gain independence from her family and having to be the one she'd cling to if she did. The Ferris wheel would work as a good distraction for them both. He sat back while she fiddled with the settings before returning back to his arms. As it counted down, he leaned in and pressed their cheeks together and smiled, waiting until the shutter went off. For the next one, he tilted his head to kiss her cheek. He could almost smell the sweet blood on her lips when they were this close together. She smelled nice and he was tempted to bury himself againsst her neck. Instead, his head dropped to her shoulder and kissed her neck for the third photo. "What should our last photo be, little bird?" He asked.
Carmen:
There had been a lot of emotional whiplash that evening and Carmen wasn’t sure whether she had done enough to maintain this mood. She’d not heard the missed opportunity to tell her he loved her back, or the way he hadn’t said he would try to help her live a life away from her parents. Instead she let him convince her yet again with his kisses, each captured in a photo. Carmen paused, but only for a beat, “Kiss me?” She murmured, ever hopeful that he still wanted her.
Isko:
Isko had no desire to lie to her about things like love. She could feel comforted that he'd never told anyone he loved them and likely never would, he wasn't built for it. He could offer her a kiss, even if he couldn't love her the way she eagerly wanted him to. "Of course," he murmured in return. It was the request he was expecting so as the photobooth began it's next countdown, his hand went to her chin, tilting her head up before he kissed her softly. The vampire lingered against her lips, ensuring the photo was taken before he tried to pull back.
Carmen:
They hadn’t kissed in so many years and yet it felt as familiar as the first, at least to Carmen. A time before she had realised he was a vampire, a time when she thought the way they kept meeting was fate pulling them together, and the butterflies would surge up in her stomach every time they crossed paths. He had been her first love, the person she thought she was choosing for herself rather than the man her father wanted her to marry, but she hadn’t been granted long before any free-will for what she felt was taken away. It just hadn’t been by the person she thought it would be.
Carmen’s thoughts came back into focus at the sound of the photos developing and dropping with a small ‘clink’ down into the bottom of the machine. She suddenly broke into a smile and reached down to pick up the series of photos of them. She looked at them thoughtfully, before leaning in to show Isko. “They’re nice ones!” She happily observed, “Don’t you think?”
He'd been looking around for Isko everywhere. He'd gone up to the second floor and even barged into some private rooms, but the vampire was nowhere to be seen. The longer he searched, the more stressed out he felt, worried he'd been ditched. Sure, it would be well deserved, but they were working on getting their relationship back to a good place. He was less sure by the second that Isko still wanted that. Rei snapped at people who tried to talk to him, barely containing his magic. He was already stressed out from the Eiji situation and this was not helping.
He was beginning to consider a spell to track him down when his eyes happened to move over the ferris wheel, the ride coming to a stop as another gondola lined up with the bottom, ready to free its current occupants and take on new ones. Why was Isko in the ferris wheel, without him? It took him a moment to recognise the woman with him. Carmen looked so intensely happy, more than he'd ever seen in the times he'd hung around her. Isko had said it was against his parole to be around her. Had that been a lie? Had he told the witch not to let Carmen find out they were dating not because she might hurt him but because then he could do what he wanted with both of them? His mind was swimming with horrible thoughts, his chest aching with a horrid mix of heartbreak and burning anger that he didn't know how to quell.
He was still standing there staring when the pair exited the gondola and his eyes met Isko's.
~~~
ISKO
Kissing Carmen felt different now. She was colder, her lips tasted of blood that wasn't her own. It was disappointing and though he already had his own lover, he did miss her humanity. As they pulled apart, he leaned into her side to look at the photos. "They're cute," he agreed. Taking his phone out, he snapped a photo of them like he wanted it for the memory. "Now they're all yours."
The ride came back down and was coming to an end. He stepped out first and held his hand out for Carmen, like a gentleman would. He hadn't realised they had someone watching them until he turned and met Rei's eyes. His instinct was to smile, a warmth filling him because he was happy to see his boyfriend. His smile turned to a frown quickly before he realised why his boyfriend looked so upset and quickly dropped Carmen's hand. Rei was already closing the space between them and he took a step forward to meet him. "Rei… Let's go get a drink."
~~~
CARMEN
Carmen smiled giddily and held onto the pictures in her hand like they were going to be her most treasured possession from now on. When they reached the bottom of the ferris wheel, she stepped out, happy to take the hand Isko offered to her. But it was very quickly dropped again and Carmen was confused for a moment as the two men suddenly approached each other. “Rei? This is the witch you know?” She smiled brightly in realisation, seeming to miss the tension between them. “Are you friends? I didn’t realise you knew each other.” Carmen asked as she looped her arm through the crook of Isko’s and cuddled into his side.
~~~
REI
There was barely a second of Isko in front of him before Carmen slipped her arm around his again and leaned in like a trophy wife. "What, you want to get me more drunk so I can't think straight?" He replied, eyes turning back to Isko. "That's why you wanted to keep it a secret, right? So you could keep messing around with her and still keep me for when you get hungry."
"Yeah, just friends," he answered Carmen finally, shooting her a sharp look. She was leaning into him like she was in love and he was hers. So much for all those promises Isko had made him. Though his eyes were still filled with anger, they were also beginning to be brimmed with tears. Rei looked over the vampire couple once more before turning away to leave.
~~~
ISKO
This was not how Isko wanted the night to go. From the look on Rei's face, he'd already jumped to his conclusions and wasn't going to see anything else. If he was paying attention, the witch would have seen the look of annoyance on his face when Carmen's arm linked through his. "I was going to suggest water because you're already intoxicated and jumping to conclusions," he answered.
He took one last look at Carmen before shrugging her off and taking a few steps to follow after his boyfriend. "Jeremiah. I know you're upset but if you walk away and leave me at this party, that's it. I'm not chasing you again," he warned, speaking loud enough that he was sure they both heard him. When he was certain the witch was paying attention, he turned back to the wide eyes of his old toy. "Rei is my boyfriend."
~~~
CARMEN
“Boyfriend?” Carmen repeated, glancing between the two of them, “But… but you love me.” It was something she’d drummed into her head over and over, enough to make her obsessed with vampires in all the years Isko had been gone, enough to drive her to want to turn into one herself, enough to make her want to abandon everyone she knew. He loved her and she needed to do whatever it took to in order to stay with him. She didn’t need to be glamoured to believe that anymore, the effects on her mind were permanent. What would she be left as if he was off with somebody else? What was she supposed to do? “You just said you didn’t want me to abandon you for anyone else.” She pointed out, “So you can play with him. But you’re mine.”
~~~
REI
He didn't want to walk away. He hadn't planned on leaving but a part of him knew he was not in a state mentally or emotionally to deal with this right now without overreacting. It was honestly amazing he hadn't already blown up. His heart did warm, his expression softening, as he heard Isko call him his boyfriend. Sure, they said it to each other, but they hardly told anyone else. His heart urged him to step forward and wrap his arms around him, but he managed to keep himself from doing so.
His eyes returned to Carmen, his feel of possessiveness surging up and fueling the dark glare he turned on her. For a brief moment, he wondered if Isko had told her he loved her, feeling that anger flare, but he had trusted Isko when he said he liked him and wasn't sure if he could love. Rei felt like he'd already lost his brother tonight, he didn't want to lose his boyfriend, too. "He's not yours," he countered, his voice dark. His fingers curled at his side as small swirls of green magic formed around his fingers, poised to cast on her if she tried anything. "If you think for one second I'm going to let you take him from me, you've got another thing coming."
~~~
ISKO
"Yes, Rei is my boyfriend. We've been seeing each other about a year," he replied, not looking at the other vampire. While Isko felt a little guilty that Carmen was in this state but he had never told her to become a vampire and follow him forever, he had never even told her he loved her. Isko had enjoyed making the sweet mayor's daughter fall in love with him and adore him but it was never meant to be forever.
Rei's possessiveness made him feel warm and he had already taken a few more steps closer. It felt like Rei was still on his side. There would be a lot to explain but he had made his choice already and he was going home with the witch. "It's been twenty years, Carmen. I just wanted to make sure you got your independence. I feel guilty that you're a vampire now and that you didn't move on with your life but it's probably time that you do."
~~~
CARMEN
Carmen couldn’t allow herself to believe that it had all been for nothing. “But I’m only allowed to be independent on my own? You don’t want me but I’m not allowed to be around anyone else either?” She wasn’t sure where it came from, but something had bubbled up from beneath the surface. Her eyes fell, narrowing at the sight of the swirls of green magic at Rei’s fingertips, before back to Isko. “This is what you wanted. You wanted me to want you.” She reminded him. She’d been told the story of what had happened to her countless times, the glamour and the after, but she’d never properly registered it. “I didn’t get to choose, why should you?”
~~~
ISKO
Isko knew he had said those things so he simply shrugged. "It's not independence if you're not on your own," he countered. He had been jealous and possessive and he still was, he was itching to reach out and grab her and make her submit again. Instead he sighed, clenching his hands into fists to stop him from reaching for her. "Yes," he agreed. That was what Isko had wanted but that was twenty years ago. He had already confessed to those crimes and served his time. "Everything that happened after I went to prison isn't my fault anymore," the vampire answered. "I didn't tell you to become a vampire. I didn't say we should be together for all eternity. You decided those things. Twenty years was long enough for those feelings to fade Carmen."
~~~
CARMEN
Carmen wasn’t listening, her eyes were wild with anger, “I don’t care.” She told him, claws extending from the beds of her nails as she quickly struck out, swiping at his face and cutting his cheek. Just as quickly, she moved forwards, picking up the blood on his cheek with her thumb, now as affectionate and sweet as she usually was. “You’re not allowed to leave me.” She told him in a way that was matter-of-fact, but soft, her eyes suddenly wide and gentle. Her head tilted to look at Rei then, “Why did you have to do that?” She pouted, “You can’t have him.”
~~~
REI
The last thing they needed was a big scene, but he was very, very happy that Isko wasn't trying to twist things, he was being a faithful boyfriend despite Carmen's clear confusion and anger. It did sound like Isko had been toying with her and leading her along, but the witch didn't feel bad enough about that to let go of his boyfriend. The movements were quick, far quicker than his drunken mind could follow but he quickly registered that she had attacked him and was making claims on him that Rei wasn't going to stand for.
His hand raised as he began manipulating the blood that she had ingested and now circulated her body, forcing her legs to bend and knee on the floor. "Hurt him again, and I'll kill you."
~~~
ISKO
It happened so fast that Isko barely registered that she had cut him with her claws. They slashed his cheek and he felt something warm start to pool. It was the first time someone had been able to physically hurt him and he turned his eyes back to her, widened with surprise. He wasn't sure if it was the drugs in Rei's blood or just his own shock that he didn't react to the violent outburst or her words.
Rei moved quicker and he watched as Carmen went to her knees and he looked between the pair. This was magic beyond what he thought Rei capable of and later, he would have to question if this was magic that could be used against him as well. "Rei, it's okay. I'm not hurt," he said, speaking after a long moment. "It will heal. Carmen is upset, we can forgive her for lashing out."
~~~
CARMEN
Carmen’s eyes widened with shock as she was suddenly forced down to her knees, but it soon turned into a hiss of frustration aimed at Rei. “What are you doing?” She demanded. “That’s so mean!” Her glare turned into Isko, though it was fuelled by upset and anger in equal measure. “You can’t leave me…” Her voice was smaller now, “Everything was for you.”
They had attracted a significant amount of attention from those waiting to get onto the ferris wheel with their little display and the attendant operating it was clearly attempting to summon some security. Carmen fidgeted, eager to get out of her embarrassing predicament on the floor.
~~~
REI
If not for Isko, Rei would have continued, if not done worse. He didn't care about the crowd, he cared that this woman had hurt his boyfriend and claimed him as her own, even after she was told about their relationship. After another few moments, Rei dispelled the magic. His eyes stayed locked on her for a few long moments before they turned to Isko.
"Are we leaving now?" He asked his expression and voice softened now that it was turned on his boyfriend. He reached forward, slipping his hand into Isko's. The vampire had made it clear that he chose him, after all.
~~~
ISKO
He wasn't sure if in his inhebriated state if Rei would let go. Part of him was curious to see what his magic could do but he also didn't want to make a scene, not when he was still on probation. "Yes, let's go home but just give me a second first," he said, giving the witch's hand a squeeze. "I feel responsible for her," he murmured softly just for the witch to hear.
He stepped away and kneeled down in front of Carmen and held his hand out for her and helped her get to her feet. "Enjoy the rest of the night, little bird. Drink your fill and dance with someone cute and go home and cuddle up with your pictures. I'll get you your sun ring," he promised, deciding he should keep that promise at the very least.
~~~~
CARMEN
Carmen watched the pair of them together, torn between so many emotions it was difficult to keep hold of herself. She glanced around them, noticing the amount of people who had gathered and were now standing and staring, whispering to each other about what was going on. Her hands moved to each side of her head, pushing the heels of them hard against her temples and squeezing her eyes shut. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair. You’re mine… you’re mine, I’m yours…” she mumbled repeatedly, until she felt Isko take her hand and she stopped, slowly opening her eyes to him. She looked around her again and gradually got to her feet, which seemed to be within her own control again. The vampire looked somewhat dazed as he spoke. “Okay.” She replied meekly, lightly touching where the cut had already healed and disappeared on Isko’s skin. “You will?” She smiled, delusional.
“Move along.” The voice of one of the bouncers interrupted the three of them and Carmen skittishly pulled back to automatically back into the crowd, which quickly swallowed her up, and she was left searching for one last sight of them through the mass.
~~~
REI
After all this, she was still clinging to the idea that Isko was hers? A part of him knew he was just trying to keep her from exploding, but she seemed delusional enough to think she could still have him all to herself. Rei's eyes stayed on her, his glare sharp and dark.
He watched her as she slipped into the crowd. It was only when he could no longer see her that his expression softened and turned to Isko. "Let's go home," he said, holding out his hand to him.
