ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ

"Is it true that those girls had tea parties with the fairies? "

"I heard Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself has gone and said that the photographs are real! Can you believe it? "

The chatter about the photographs taken by two young girls interacting with fairies was seemingly all England could talk about. Even from the other side of the pond in France, the news had crossed over and was the topic for many discussions.

A few of the members of the troupe had placed bets on whether the photographs turned out to be true or false. The pot was steadily growing more outlandish, but Armand played no part in stopping or engaging in the unruly banter of his fellow artisans.

For all he knew, the chance of fairies existing was about as likely as vampires.

—

On one of his late-night walks out in the Parisian nighttime, Armand found himself pondering the nature of his existence as a supernatural being. It was something he did not permit himself to think of often.

If mortals still dwell on silly matters such as fairies, what is to say that they will bother with further investigating the nature of other creatures? Vampires? The undead? Werewolves?

Armand shook his head. He would need to discuss with the coven what to do in case they would need to flee unexpectedly. They had been relatively safe staging as thespians, but after a handful of years passed, it would need to be considered.

He passed by a lamplight with a stranger standing underneath it.

What kind of author would busy himself with the talk of fairies, anyhow? Was true inspiration in such low supply that one had to turn to gossip for writing material?

Another lamplight he walked by had another stranger.

All the better it be something almost entirely fictional than truly supernatural. He shook his head at the thought of another vampiric inspired novel hitting the shelves. Despite their inaccuracies, the thought of humans becoming interested in vampires put him on edge.

This stranger standing underneath the light had their hand covering their mouth, shoulders lightly moving up and down. This gave him pause. Another sense that made him stop in his tracks was the stillness in the air, how the birds had ceased their singing and the riverbank no longer had a current.

Nearby passerby's had also paused their movements. It was as if Armand had used his Time gift on the entirety of the bank, and anyone who dared get too close.

"I was beginning to wonder when you'd notice that! " The stranger exclaimed suddenly. Armand unpocketed his hand, setting it alight and cradling the flames in his palm.

"What are you? What have you done to-" He stopped abruptly, at the feeling of the fire in his hand dying. No matter how strongly he willed it, the ability to create fire was taken from him. He felt terrifyingly vulnerable for the first time in centuries.

"Oh yeah, I don't want you to get comfortable with that whole coven leader schtick you got going on. " The thing joked. Joking! As if this whole matter was acceptable in any capacity.

"Don't worry, it's just like if you had frozen time. " Suddenly, the stranger materialized beside him. Armand turned away as quickly as possible, flying backwards to the top of the lamplight where they once stood.

"You don't want me close to you, that's fine! I'm fine with that, just, " They spoke both from their spot on the ground and then a voice whispered.

"Remember that you can't get away. I'm not going to let you. " He could hear the smile in their disembodied voice. "At least not yet. "

The stranger placed their hands in their pockets, and began rocking back and forth on their heels, eyes glued to his perched form. Despite his better judgment, a stray appreciation for their beauty crossed Armand's mind. His stomach churned at the way the stranger's head tilted and a grin breaking out. No doubt they had an inkling that he found them attractive.

"Mister, I have a question. " They raised their hand with faux curiosity.

His eyes narrowed as they continued. "How is it that a vampire as old as you is so, " They drawled out the 'oh' syllable. "Combative to the idea that other entities, perhaps magical, perhaps not, exist? "

Armand's lips remained sealed.

"Nothing? Really? Aw, what a shame. " They pouted but began pacing.

Armand settled crisscross on the lamplight. He shut his eyes, trying to settle into a relatively peaceful mindset.

"The old silent treatment, huh? Alright, two can play at that game! " Despite the fact that his eyes were closed, he could tell that they were sour at his refusal to engage.

Seconds passed, then minutes, perhaps even hours. Time became a trivial thing, something he could ignore in favor of preserving his dignity and pride.

"That's what you tell yourself but woo! Let me be the first to tell you, " A gust of wind washed over his face, and he knew they were directly in front of his face.

"You really have no idea what you're messing with. So, to protect yourself and that precious coven you love-er, well care about so much, I think it'd be a good idea to just indulge me. Won't you do that for me, Mister? " Armand felt their soft puffs of air as they spoke. They smelled of dried flowers and rosemary.

Armand opened his eyes, and as expected, they were eye to eye.

"Hi! "

"…"

"Okay, so now that I got your pretty eyes on me, let me try to get that mouth to move too. " They winked. Armand trained his face to remain fixed.

"Is it true you're one of the oldest vampires alive? You don't have to talk, but I'll know if you're lying. " A moment passed, and a glimmer of excitement shone in their eye.

"Woo-ee! So, not the oldest, but you're getting pretty close to half a millennia, is that right? " Armand shut his eyes once more, causing a whine to leave the stranger's lips.

"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that! " Armand turned his head, leading the entity to chase after his face. "I was just curious! I've never met a vampire before! " Their hands, comfortably warm, pressed onto his shoulder. An urge to lean into the warmth frightened him.

"Alright, I can tell you just wanna leave, so I'll just tell you one thing. " A hand cupped his ear, that smiling voice creeped into his mind once more.

"Beware the one who prances. Two liars are better than one, especially the one with roots deep within. Let the play occur, and watch your lives burn. "

A flurry of whispers and wind flew around him, carrying the stranger and their pause on time far away. Armand watched the babbling sounds of the river continue, the walking Parisians wander as if nothing occurred.

"Uh, sir! " A man called up to him. "Are you quite alright? "

Armand was shellshocked but had enough sense about him to nod. The man nodded in return, walking into the shadows whilst giving glances back.

There was no way to confirm, but Armand took precautionary measures in implementing protective artifacts around and outside the theatre. Whatever entity had him in their grasp would not enter his last space for himself.

He told himself the lingering smell of rosemary and fresh roses were because of the nearby flower stand.

author’s note: thank you so much for the anon that requested this! if anyone is wondering what photographs i was referencing in the beginning, it's the cottingley fairy pictures! basically, it was a few photos that a couple of English girls who were friends took that they 'photoshopped' to make it seem like they were playing with fairies! this request just reminded me of that hoax and since it happened around the same time as the Paris timeline, i thought why not add in a cute little reference to real history!!

For the first handful of years as queen (or moreso coven leader, but official titles became obsolete in the face of the Wilderness that was your coven) everything was erratic. People weren't too fond of having a young vampire such as yourself take on that much responsibility. It was as if your age was the only factor that decided your capability as a leader.

It took you almost ten years for your status to be solidified. Coups were stomped out, and their treason was met with the swift hand of death.

You did all the executions and forced the coven to watch. A classic and efficient way to set an example, despite how was sadistic it appeared to those who witnessed it. After each and every death, you contemplated whether you should have joined them in death.

Currently, you no longer had those thoughts of passively giving up the control you scraped and clawed for for years. You had earned the right to wear the crown, command your soldiers, and decide who lived and died.

Not everyone understood how much this role meant to you. And you stopped trying to make them care a long time ago.

Tonight was the Hunt, a ritual that was around long before you had joined the coven. No one knows exactly who started it, or why, but everyone agreed that it was an efficient way to track down your prey.

You were in your cabin, which was comparatively larger than the other ones. There was little decoration you sought to place, considering there had been other queens before you. It felt like an affront to their memory to scrub any traces of them from their home.

You sat at your vanity, a modest white desk with drawers and mirror for you to look at your appearance. The drawers were never opened and you only sat there for occassions like this.

You already had your cloak and robe on, its fabric settling over you like a second skin. The hair attached to it was…inconvienent, but it was a necessity. The discomfort was a part of the job.

There was little products left for you to do your makeup with, but you had enough rouge to dust over your eyelids and lips. You contemplated dragging the red down your chin and throat, but decided it would be too literal for the act you were going to engage in tonight.

You glanced at the antler crown and collar from the corner of your room. They remained there until it was time for these events.

"My queen? Is there anything I can help you with tonight? " You rolled your eyes at the voice intruding this sacred time.

"No, Mitsy. I'd rather not have another pair of underwear stolen from my drawers when I'm not looking. "

"I told you it was stained! I was just taking it to-never mind. The other girls want to know if you're done getting ready so we can start. "

You tilted your head in thought before responding. "I just need help with the crown and necklace. They're a bit heavy, could you send someone in to help? "

A small tinge of jealousy sparked through you, clearly from Mitsy. "I'll send Mai. " The curtness of her tone made you roll your eyes. You'd have to deal with Mitsy's possessive ass later.

A little while later passed when you heard a knock at your bedroom door.

"Come in. "

Mai, one of the oldest of the group, let herself in. You trusted her rationality, as she was one of the only vampires that vouched for your leadership every time in the face of turmoil. You suspected it was for personal gain, that she could count on you to pay her back the day she asks for a favor, but you couldn't blame her for doing so.

"You need some help with that? " Mai asked, pointing to symbols that solidified your role as head of the coven.

"Yes, if you don't mind. " You responded, preparing your shoulders and head for the soreness that would persist in the aftermath when you wore them.

"I always thought these looked so cool. " Mai chuckled as she lowered the collar first. "You wear it well. " The veil from the antlers fell over your face, obscuring your vision instantly.

"Thanks. " Was all you could respond. Mai offered you her arm, guiding you out of your room and into the outdoors.

Everyone was waiting for you. The group had on their masks, clothed for the hunt and gear in hand. From the small crowd, you noticed that Mitsy was glaring at Mai. You nudged for her to join the rest of the group, and she complied.

You stepped onto the ground, your fellow vampires parting to allow you to walk forward as they followed close behind. The walk to the fire pit in the middle of camp was short, but the air of anticipation became more palpable.

At the front of the pit were trinkets and keepsakes from other prey, the ones who gave their lives to sustain you and your coven. A plastic comb, compasses, and hiking boots were among the few.

The coven began circling the fire pit and waiting for the ritual to begin. Mitsy came into your peripheral vision, holding out the deck of cards for you to take.

A fourty-nine card deck. One card held the outcome you all wanted.

You nodded to Mai and another girl, Donna, and they walked out to the shed.

"Mitsy, you can go back, now. " You whispered to her. She shook her head.

"If you allow me, your Majesty, I'd like to stay with you. " You looked at her, and saw her eyes were filled with desperation. She must've thought you hated her for the underwear incident. You sighed, then relented. She grinned from ear to ear, and stood a little straighter as Mai and Donna returned, a squirming piece of prey dragged between them.

They both forced the person down before you, their head was hung low.

You tilted your head as much as you could with the crown on your head. "What is your name? "

Their breathing was shaky before responding. "D-Dominic. "

"Hello Dominic. I'm going to tell you what's going to happen. " You held out your arm, card deck in hand. "We're going to decide whether you live or die. And all you have to do is pick a card. " You held out the deck to him. His breathing picked up even more. "What? "

"I don't like repeating myself, Dominic. Pick a fucking card. " He shot out his hand, shakily taking the top card. He flipped it, a three of spades facing you. You passed the deck to Mitsy, who eagerly took a card as well.

"A Jack! "

"You don't have to announce it, Mitsy, if it isn't the card just pass it around. " Mai said. Mitsy stuck out her tongue, but complied.

"W-What the fuck is going on? Who are you people? Why are you doing this? You don't have to do this, please, I won't say anyt-! " Mai slapped the back of his head, hard.

"Shut up. You better start praying you don't get the card, man. Because if you do, " She whistled. "You're gonna wish you died at the campsite with the rest of your friends. "

"Why is it just me? There's a whole bunch of you, why is it just me?! " Dominic cried out, ignoring Mai's warning.

"Because some of us prefer the chase rather than the reward. " You stated bluntly, recieving the deck once more. You held it out for him once more, ignoring the horrified look on his face.

A five of diamonds.

A King of clubs.

Then finally, a Queen of hearts. The card shook in the hands of the one who held it.

"No. No, no, no, nononononono! NO! " Dominic threw the card down, and was quickly restrained by Mai. Throughout his wails and pleas for someone to help him, spare his life, the normal things someone would say, you interrupted.

"Dominic, listen to me. You have a chance to live. Do you hear me? You can live, okay? " That seemed to calm him, to some degree. "You have the choice to either run, or submit. " You crouched down, vision still obscured, but you were able to make out his face. He was visibily mulling over the choices, and you were growing impatient.

"Dominic, you better decide soon. I'm gonna start counting down, and by the time I get to zero, that means we either start the hunt, or you give up. "

"W-Wait, you never said there was a-! "

"Ten. "

Mai threw him in the direction of the forest. He lost his footing, but began to run.

"Nine. Eight. Seven. " Some of the girls were heading back to their cabins, others took a sprinting position.

"Six! Five! Four! " You heard Mitsy giggle, heard her hiss at anyone who came too close.

"Three! Two! ONE! " And then they were off. In a blink, you knew that they were honing in and descending on Dominic. Mitsy's curly hair flew by you, as well as a message.

"I'll bring back something for you! If I there's anything left over, that is! "

You didn't respond, but you kept a close eye out for the sounds of the hunt. Howling, screaming, metal clashing, those were all to be expected.

"You gonna stay till they come back? " Mai asked, arms crossed.

"Of course. They're my responsibility, I'll take care of anyone that gets hurt. Or if they want to…gift me anything. Is that a bad thing? " You asked.

Mai shrugged. "Nah. Just means you care. " She lowered her voice and leaned in close. "Keep hiding that bleeding heart like you have been, and everything will be fine. "

You nodded, and she walked away.

You were tempted to tell her the same thing, but the sounds of distress coming from what sounded like your coven members sent you into full alert.

"Audrey, Carmen, tell the other girls to hole up. Do not under any circumstances allow them to leave their cabins until I get back. " They obeyed and began spreading your command telepathically and verbally.

You sped into the direction of where your members had gone, honing in on anything that sounded like them.

"Donna, can you hear me? Laura? Mitsy? Damn it, someone please let me know you're okay! "

"Who are you? "

You stopped and cut off any mental messages you were sending out.

"There's no point in pausing now, I can see you. "

You spun around, scanning every inch of the forest surrounding you. "What did you do to my friends? What happened to their prey? "

"I think the only person you should be worrying about is yourself, Antler Queen. " An unfamiliar voice spoke from behind you. You turned and was instantly faced with a man. His entire lower half of his face, and partially his neck was covered in crimson.

"Did you kill them? All of them? " You demanded, hands clenching into fists.

"Yes. I would have let them be, but they were intent on killing me, as well. " He nodded his head lightly. "I can sense you're distressed. Perhaps it would be best if you left as well to avoid the same fate as your friends- "

Before he could say another word, you pounced on him. Your attire made it difficult to inflict much damage other than restraining and punching, but it felt like you wouldn't have been able to do much if you hadn't been wearing it.

You were thrown onto your back, the man's face retaining a terrifying amount of stoicism to your thrashing, snapping form. You hadn't been that quickly restrained in decades.

"Stop that. " The man spoke and your body obeyed, despite how urgently you wanted not to.

"It's rather typical for a vampire of your caliber to be as emotional as you are. You're practically a fledgling compared to me. " He tilted his head before reaching for your veil.

"Don't. " You said through gritted teeth. "Why not? " The man asked.

"Bec-Because. I don't want you to. " You managed to strain out.

"Fair enough. Forgive me, I was once a coven leader, and I should treat you with the same respect. " The man pondered for a moment before shaking his head down at you. "Look at how baseless covens have become. "

His tone made you want to throw up. "We are not baseless. We are just doing what we have- "

"Always done, which is survive. Yes, I am aware of your values. " He leaned in close to your ear, his dark curls brushing up against your face.

"If you wish to see another night, you would do well to remember the Great Laws. It's a wonder how you have survived out here for so long without them. You are bound to by the Laws, the same as any other coven. Just because you have rejected the normal constraints of vampirism does not exclude you from living like one. "

Finally, he released you from his hold. You immediately shot away from his, slamming your back up against a tree. He stood, his molten stare holding you in place. You wanted to kill him, you wanted him to hurt as badly as you did. But you knew you could do nothing about it. His age was likely three times your own, and your coven stood no chance against him.

"Do not worry, they each went down bravely. " You briefly looked away, eyes clenched in pain. "Quickly, but bravely. "

And with that, the man turned around and disappeared into the foliage.

—

You found them later, and asked Mai to help you carry what was left of them back to camp.

Everyone was distraught, but you managed to hide your tears and distress from the coven relatively well.

There ceased to be any further hunts until it was certain that no wayward vampires are still lurking about. You couldn't stop thinking about that man. His stare, the blood staining his face, the sheer uncanniness with how revered he talked about the Great laws despite having no coven to speak of.

You were going to kill him.

You weren't sure how, when or where, but you swore each time you woke up and each time you fell asleep that he would die by your hand.

They had been drifting for what was close to two weeks. The last ship they plundered had little cargo of value. The men on board were cowardly and too attached to the life on land, nothing like the true sailors on board the Theatre.

And so, their Captain demanded they be left behind. Originally, Santiago voted to kill them instead but was outvoted by the rest of the crew. He despised how easily everyone was so quick to obey to the man who secluded himself from the rest of his sailors.

Suddenly, one of the sailors on board, by the name of Sam Barclay, let out a shout from his spot. It gained the attention of everyone.

"What is it, Sam? " Santiago questioned. Sam looked at the steerer, maw agape and eyes as wide as saucers.

"I-I coulda sworn I saw a creature! " He managed. Celeste, one of the more easily disgruntled members, scoffed.

"Not again with these lively claims, Samuel. How many time must we say it? " Her and her close friend Estelle spoke in unison.

"There are no! Such! Thing! As-!"

"Sea creatures! I know! " Sam finished, swinging his arms about. The other crew members opted to ignore the commotion, even going so far as starting a card game in a secluded part of the deck. The shade of the billowing sails shielded the playing sailors as Sam attempted to explain what he saw.

"It was a tail! And not the ones like from a whale or a dolphin! " He insisted, but his explanation fell upon deaf ears. As starved as the crew was for entertainment, no one was interested in the ramblings of an exhausted, hysterical Irishman.

—

In the captain's quarters, Armand sat at his desk, pouring over the nautical charts in front of him. While it was never a priority to kill, he couldn't help but ponder Santiago's attempt to appeal to the crew's darker impulses.

He massaged his temple, unused to the strain now required with the loss of his eye. It never occurred to him that losing a sense would happen to him. What was once a distant possibility was now his reality.

The migraines were infrequent and intense, such as the one he was experiencing now. Hiding away in his quarters became more of a common occurance in an attempt to remedy his newfound restrictions.

He couldn't assist in navigation as he once did, and he found himself slower with a sword. The pride he once clung onto for talent with sparring was no longer there.

A hand tenderly grazed the black fabric covering the scarred flesh. He still hadn't brought himself to look at a mirror, relying on one of the sailors, namely Eglee or Celeste, to fix his appearance whenever he prepared himself to emerge on deck.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Armand lightly groaned. "What is it? "

"Begging your pardon, captain, " Santiago's grating voice pierced through the wooden door. "But you might be interested in what we have discovered. "

Armand stood from his seat, chair legs grinding against the floor with restrained anger. Santiago's smug face, likely due to Armand's deshelved state, made the pain in his cranium pulse.

"This way, capitán. " Santiago began to walk.

"I hope this is not another petty squabble you feel compelled to drag me into. " Armand sighed.

"Au contraire, mon capitan. " They both shielded their eyes from the sunrays simultaneously. Santiago continued forward as Armand paused to adjust to the brightness of the world above deck.

The entire crew was silent, for a change. Everyone, from Sam to Romaine, was glued to the edge of the railing, searching the ocean.

"What is all this? " Armand began asking, before being abruptly shushed by Santiago. A glare and smirk was shared between the two of them before Santiago beckoned his captain towards the crew.

Looking out, there was nothing special. A ring of rocks poked from the deep blue, not far out from where the ship was momentarily stopped. Armand hadn't even noticed their pausing in movement, now growing even more exasperated by the unexpected stop.

"Right there! There, captain, do you see?! " Samuel whispered excitedly. Armand followed Sam's finger to what he was referring to.

For a moment, there was no sign of anything. And then-

Splash!

A blue tinged tail slammed against the water from behind the rocks. Unlike most creatures that beared seafaring appendages, this one was different in the sheer size. It was larger than any animal Armand had heard of or seen otherwise.

His eye widened even further when a hand. A five-fingered appendage with claws and scales crawling up to an attached body.

A body with an otherworldly beautiful face. Its pupils were slitted, almost glowing despite it being midday. Armand briefly registered a hushed gasp leave his crew.

"That's the most its shown since we stopped. "

"Do ya reckon its a mermaid or one of those sirens? The kind that eat humans like us? "

The whispers faded as soon as the creature lifted itself onto the rocks, the upper half of its naked body on full display. There was no hostility in its demeanor, but it was clearly aware that it was being ogled at.

"Captain, " Estelle whispered, ignoring the slight flinch that left Armand. "What are going to do? "

"What do you mean? "

"Do we kill it? Sail the other way? "

Armand turned his good eye towards her. "Unless there is good reason to do either of those things, we will. For now, " The rest of the crew watched him with baited breath.

"We will wait for it to leave. "

"What?! " Santiago whispered agitatedly.

"Are you questioning your captain, Francis? " Armand reveled in the way his sailors entire face twitched at the usage of his birthname.

"Mermaid or siren, both possess the same ability. " The crew looked at their captain confusedly. "If the tales are true, and they appear to be now, with this creature appearing before us; there is a great possibility that the being before us has the ability to provide whoever captures them superior luck. "

The crew began to buzz. Good fortune meant never again wondering when the next adventure would come, or whether they would have to drink themselves to sleep because food provisions were low.

With the promise of luck beyond one could ever dream of, the sailors began to disperse to different sides of the boat. They scouted out the rest of the waters in search of any other sea creatures that could double, triple their luck.

Armand remained fixated on the being, still exposed in an attempt to regulate its body temperature. He ignored the lingering eyes of Santiago, who was clearly going to attempt to undermine his authority one way or another.

It was going to be a long day.

—

In the dark of the night, you had noticed a hulking mass glide overhead on the sea surface. It was unlike anything you had ever seen before, and clicked as much to your family.

Your sisters scoffed, your brother swished sand in your face.

"Do not bother yourself with the machinations of humans, sibling. It leads only to death. "

That was what your family repeated, stuck in your head like a delirious fish swimming in circles. You had agreed…to an extent. You didn't bother the humans, per se. More like observed from a safe distance, a blip on the wide seas that could easily be waved off.

Your eyes and ears picked up on the slightest movements on board. The way the humans moved, with their shaky legs and their vacant eyes, it was a wonder how they made it this far out to sea.

You preferred the man with the funny accent, the one who ran away screaming when you decided to pop your head out of the water to scare him. It was an impulsive choice on your part, and for a while, the taunting and teasing was worth the risk.

Until you pushed your luck a little too far.

On one particular morning of you taunting Sam (the funny accent man), you made the mistake of sticking around to see how the rest of the crew reacted to his claims.

One of the women, a Seal-est, you think, saw you swim away. Then a chase ensued, of very little stakes considering the ease in which you slid through the water, and you were cornered into a circle of rocks.

You shielded yourself from the prying eyes of the humans on board, your inner voice degrading yourself for being seen so openly. You took little peeks from around the bedrock, immediately shrinking back when you saw the crowd of human's ooh and aww.

Then you saw him.

His tan skin glowed in the sunlight, the dark curls framing his face making him look like a gift from the heavens. And his eye…not even the brightest bits of gold you came across on the seafloor compared. You gripped the rock you were hiding behind so hard you felt bits of gravel in between your webbed fingers.

A burst of energy, a need that you couldn't describe overtook you. You were willing to do anything to capture that mans, the one they called Cap-tan, attention.

And what better way to do so than by begininng the first phase of your mating ritual?

You lifted your upper half up and out of the water, waiting for the Cap-tan to reciprocate and reveal himself as well. He made no movements to do so, but there was a slight hiccup in his demeanor when Est-el began whispering to him.

There was little you understood from the language they spoke, but you could tell that by the way Cap-tan responded, he was open to continuing the ritual with you.

Everyone else had dispersed, cupping their eyes and scanning the water (clearly looking for predators that could attack at any moment), but not Cap-tan. Perhaps because of the nature of his physique, the ritual needed to be conducted in a way that suited the both of you.

Now, it was time to move on to the next phase. You bared your teeth at him (an obvious display of strength) before splashing back into the ocean.

You couldn't have your future mate thinking you were weak, now could you?

—

The moment the mer-creature disappeared into the sea, the crew was beyond disappointed. Groans rung out, but Armand acted quickly.

"Lift up the anchor! " He pushed passed his gobsmacked sailors and placed himself at the wheel. "We're following them. "

The crew acted with immediate obedience, with Santiago as the only member unwilling to fulfill his assigned task.

Sam whispered to him, arms full of rope. "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be, for Pete's sake! Just listen to the man for one stinking moment and we'll be set for life-! "

"I will not, " Santiago growled. "Obey the one you call master. No one controls me. "

There was a beat and a blink from Sam before he responded. "Alright, suit yourself. " And he was gone. Santiago flitted his two working eyes to his Captain and swiftly retreated below deck. Inspecting the cargohold would be a well-enough excuse to use, despite the flogging he might have to endure.

The ship began to sail as fast as it could to keep pace with the quick moving shadow beneath the surface. It flitted this way and that, but ultimately kept continously moving north.

"Captain! " Estelle shouted amongst the moving chaos on deck. "We can't kept up this pace much longer! " She stumbled, but regained her footing. "If we continue giving chase we'll risk taking on damage to the hull! "

Armand casted his gaze out to sea again, the swimming creature leading the way. Then he looked to his crew. They were working in tandem to follow after a promising legend, but he knew in his heart of hearts that they were not meant to succeed.

The information about recieiving luck from the bounty of mermaids was only a myth. But it gave him a temporary sense of purpose he hadn't felt since the loss of his eye rendered him useless. But perhaps it would be best-

"SIR! " A sailor shouted, pointing to the ocean once more. A few other members paused their work to see what was there.

Two more shadows had joined the mermaid.

Sharks.

"That thing lead us into a trap! " One person exclaimed.

"Stay calm and continue your stationwork, crew! " Armand commanded. There was no room for showing weakness. He made a mistake, but they had been through worse situations at sea. And this would be no different.

"Sam! "

"Aye, captain! "

"Tell Santiago to fire a cannonball as far away from us as possible! "

The man paused in his movements, seeking any type of reassurance from his crewmates. "SAM! "

"Okay, okay! " The man rushed below deck, leaving a trail of fabric behind him as the rest of the sailors attempted to steer the ship away from the figures while still being in pursuit.

There was a brief moment where Armand considered bringing up a vote to desert Santiago on an island with no supplies, but a large boom went off just minutes later. The vibrations from the impact of the cannonball had visibly shocked the mermaid and sharks alike, but it sent the true threat swimming away.

Now a safe distance away, the ship and its crew were exhausted. The ship's hull groaned to a stop and the sailors on board almost collapsed with the anchor.

The creature hadn't moved since the cannonball fired and Armand looked over the bannister to watch in emerge from the surface.

Its face was pinched in pain; their eyes were blinking rapidly. He almost felt sorry for it, were it not for the inhuman quality of their features.

"Captain, " A breathless Celeste appeared beside him. "With all due respect, let's just net the bastard and be done with it. "

Armand was unresponsive, only snapping out of his trance when Celeste shook him.

"What? Oh, yes, the net. " Armand suddenly felt out of sorts. Like a fog had entered his mind, numbing him to the words of his crewmate.

"So is that a yes to the net, Captain? " Celeste sounded leagues away, despite only being less than a foot away from him. Armand turned once more to the mermaid, only this time, its eyes were the sole feature visible from the ship.

"-tain? Captain?! It's that thing, I know it is! " Celeste began to call out to the rest of the crew, but it was too late.

Armand leaned his entire body over the railing, tumbling overboard and landing in the ocean with a splash.

From the moment his form made contact with the water, the dull pain from behind his eye disappeared. His lungs were unprepared for the sudden lack of oxygen, but he made no moves to try and swim to save himself.

A steady stream of nihlism creeped its way through his skin, underneath to his veins and flowing directly into his soul. His body was sinking, slowly and surely under the pressure of the ocean, and there was nothing him or his crewmates could do to save him.

Those were going to be his last thoughts.

But out of nowhere, he felt something staring at him. He managed to crack open his eye just a tad and was met with the illuminating eyes of the mermaid he and his crew were just relentlessly tracking down. It was then that he accepted his fate, of becoming yet another meal to an unforgiving creature.

However, the mermaid had other plans. Instead of baring its teeth in a display of aggression, it cupped his face to bring him close. The feeling of its lips against his own was foreign, but not unwelcome.

He found himself subconsiously gripping onto the waist of the sea creature, and it returned the gesture by wrapping its tail around and around his legs.

When they parted, the mermaid had an almost fondness to its face. And in a split second, they unwrapped their tail from him and began swimming at a pace that made Armand's head slam forward into its chest.

Occasionally, with Armand signaling that he required more oxygen, the mermaid emerged to the surface to allow him to take in air. It was during those brief moments with a squinted eye, that he realized he was far from his ship and everyone on shore.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the mermaid, after a certain amount of time had passed, they either refused or ignored Armand's signals for oxygen and relied solely on pressing their lips to his to pass air.

It was not long after this that Armand passed out. The last thing he wondered before black started creeping from the corners of his vision to completely overtaking it was, "I hope it does not ruin my face any more than it already is. "

—

Once arriving at your den, you ensured that your soon-to-be mate was comfortable. You crawled on the surface of the cave, carrying your limp mate's body in one arm, to the nest you created. Originally, you had no intention of ever mating, but your Cap-tan had changed your mind entirely.

You wiped his wet curls away from his face, retreating back underwater to properly breath, grabbing a stray fish and biting its head off. You placed the dead animal next to his face, in hopes that he would be content enough to eat your offering and complete the mating ritual.

Obviously, if he responded to your calls, it meant he was willing to mate with you.

You contented yourself with watching him sleep the day away. Watching his chest move up and down was hypnotic, so much so that you mimicked his breathing pattern to feel even closer to him.

As time passed, however, you were feeling insecure about the puny fish you had offered to him. This was the last stage, the final thing that meant he was choosing you to be his. It had to be something more than any common thing you could kill and bring to him at any time.

And so you began piling more and more things for him. Shells were arranged in a messy smile, stray bottles of rum were also added, as well as a couple of bones here and there.

It wasn't until you turned around, a skull in hand, that you realized that his eye was open. That he was watching you. Again, that instinct overtook every fibre of your being, and you crawled towards him, teeth bared.

You stopped just a foot away from him, nodding from the stack of tribute to him. Eventually, he sat up, eye wide and head shaking. The noises he had suggested a frightened nature, making you want to curl around him until he felt nice and safe.

You continued nodding your head, steadily growing impatient and nudging a bottle towards him.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he reached for the bottle. This caused you to chirp in excitement, tail slapping on the cavefloor.

Now the real fun could begin.

The early years of your childhood and subsequent formative years faded from your mind decades ago. One of the only things you can recall is the feeling of someone, likely your mother or father, tucking you into bed. An overwhelming feeling of acceptance and care was also low in abundance.

Four hundred and seventy-five years.

What a life you have lived, almost half a milennia. You acclimated to vampirehood relatively well, by your maker's standards. She affectionately referred to you as 'my sweet one', due to your first years as a fledgling.

It was also your maker that appointed you as coven leader after a successful reign of at least several centuries. You had no clue how truly old she was, only that you looked back on the terms of endearment and favor she showed towards you with suspicion.

If she truly loved you, why wouldn't she have taken you with her? The neverending amount of pressure you faced while being coven leader had you contemplating abandoning coven life altogether.

The double-edged nature of being a leader was taking its toll. You ate less to provide more blood for your members, you upheld the laws with a solemn obedience, and mentored the younger, less experienced members. It was exhausting.

Your members, your supposed family no longer looked at you as an equal. They revered the very ground you walked on. You sensed their fear every time you entered a room.

Regardless, this was no longer the case. At least for the night.

You left your second in command, an older vampire named Dawn, in charge of the coven as you entered the Parisian night air.

You admired the artistry of the city, its lamplights illuminating the cobblestone streets and passerbys. You contemplated on what you would do with an entire night to yourself. The opportunity presented itself in the form of a younger man's thoughts as he passed you.

"Je ne peux pas attendre de voir une autre représentation ce soir! J'ai entendu de bonnes choses à propos de ce théâtre! "

Despite your many years on Earth, you never had a chance to further your formal or impersonal education. Most of your communication with the Paris coven was through Dawn. She had learned the French syntax through force. She had many conversations with victims and friends alike, and she was always willing to extend her services to assist you.

You were grateful for her. Your accent left much to be desired and you could never quite figure out how to translate certain words from your native language, often because there was never a proper word for it.

Thankfully, you did have context clues. Representation and theatre were the couple of words you manage to parse through. That meant there was entertainment nearby. You contemplated whether you were still socially capable of attending a soirée, but you put those thoughts to the side.

This night was for you. And you would spend it how you wanted.

Newly determined, you followed after the young man and his date. The two of them reminded you of contented puppy dogs, clambering all over each other with little regard for how they were percieved. They were…cute. You couldn't remember the last time someone willingly showered you in praise and love.

The walk to the theatre was not far, and you stopped in your tracks when you realized who operated it.

Armand. The Parisian coven leader. The leader who Dawn recounted spoke with a terrifying amount of control and coldness. He reigned over his coven for centuries and with an iron fist.

Despite being only a handful of decades older than him, you felt intimidated. You heard of how ruthlessly he upheld the laws, and how callous his coven could be to outsiders.

Turning on your heel, you began to walk away as casually you could. But a shout of your name stopped your movements entirely.

"Ah, yes, I thought that was you! " An Irish accent slipped through the small crowd of people entering and exiting the theatre. You turned around to see a man with curly hair parted down the middle, face painted white and faux fangs sticking out cartoonishly. This must have been the Sam Barclay Dawn told you about.

At your confused look, he bowed his head in greeting. "Good evening to ya! I hope you were coming to watch us perform on this fine night. " He propped his fists on his hips, cocking his head to the side.

"Or did your boss tell ya not to dilly-dally for too long? "

You blinked. "Boss? You mean Dawn? "

He breathed out a slight laugh in disbelief. "Well you sure are a cocky one, aren't ya? " He flicked one hand to beckon you to the entrance. "C'mon in. Fellow…artisans such as ourselves get half off on tickets. "

You followed him to the ticket booth. "May I ask what show is being performed tonight? " You handed him the euros as you asked.

Sam's eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He ripped off the ticket stub as his fangs, his true fangs, poked out.

"The best kinda prize is a surprise, darling. " He winked as he handed your ticket to you. "You enjoy the show, y'here? "

—

You had no idea why a vampire as young as Sam would talk to you so casually, but you chalked that up to his nature. Perhaps he simply spoke to everyone like that.

The interior of the theatre was heady with the sensations of mortals mingling. Their excitement and eagerness for the show intrigued you.

You settled into a seat in the far back, not wanting to draw any more attention than you already had. While waiting for the performance to start, you probed the minds of audience members for an idea of what was in store.

There was a handful of repeat attendees, the passionate ones gaggling at the very first row.

Before you could reach more than a vague understanding of what would soon occur, you felt a shift. A presence attempting to grasp your attention.

You looked up and there he was. Armand, the coven leader and 'artistic director' in mortal eyes.

"Eyes to the front, puce. "

You complied quickly. It was an instinct driven by a long-forgotten compulsion to obey when faced with authority. A feeling you hadn't felt since your maker's departure.

"It is always a pleasure to welcome a new vampire to our humble theatre. " His word were laced with a practiced politeness.

"And since you are not accustomed to the customs of other covens, I will forgive your informality. " So it seems like it wasn't just Sam's nature.

"Thank you for being so forgiving, sir. I will do my best to respect you and your coven to the best to my ability. " It seemed like that answer satisfied him. Barring your mind from any other influence, you reached out to Dawn. The only sign you received that signaled she was listening was a sharp feeling of fear resonating from her side of the psychic link.

"We have much to discuss when I return, Dawn. If I suspect you will flee, I will send the others after you. "

With that message recieved, the show began.

The lights were dimmed and a live band began performing a fanfare for the opening act. Screams echoed throughout the room and the lights flickered on cue.

"Ladies and gentlemen! " A voice rang out. "Madames and messieurs! " A figure appeared on stage, draped in a black cloak to thunderous applause. You gazed out among the sea of humans and looked at their unassuming enthusiasm.

His face was handsome, if a bit weathered. The brightness of his eyes was only compounded by the spotlight that appeared as he continued to monologue.

The melodramatic nature of the play mixed with the jaunty music playing was jarring. You had truly never seen anything like it in your life. Even the silliest of plays paled in comparison to the Theatre de Vampires. Santiago, you learned through the shouts, was a good opener.

You could truly see yourself enjoying your evening.

"Um..boss? Dawn tried to climb out of her window. But don't worry, I stopped her! What do you want to do with her? " Missy. One of, if not the most devoted of your members.

You sighed through your nostrils before responding. "Restrain her in the cellar, but do not harm her. I have some things I need to ask her. " You paused before adding, "Good job, Missy. "

You could feel her preen with joy at your light praise. "Of course, boss! You're so good to me-I mean us! Uh, I'll go ahead and do that thing! Right away! " She had more to say, but you cut off the mental conversation early.

Discreetly as you could, you stood from your seat at the end of the row and circled back to the exit.

"Leaving so soon? " Armand's voice permeated your mind. You paused in the threshold of the doorway.

"My master beckons me. I do hope that you will allow me to leave to avoid any possible conflict. " You hoped that your excuse would suffice.

"Of course. Do give your master my well wishes. " You tilted your head up at where you assumed Armand to be, and nodded. You could only assume that he returned the gesture, since you left and sped away back to your coven faster than any human on the street had enough time to process.

—

"Is she conscious? "

Missy met you at the door, and you sidestepped her instantly. She made no complaint and simply responded.

"Yes, boss. The other girls wanted her to draw cards, but I told them to wait. "

"Good. " You turned, bypassing the vampires bowing to you. Finally, you made it to the stairway leading to the cellar holding Dawn. You opened the door, almost tearing the hinges off in the process, but that barely registered to you.

Right before you began your trek down, Missy lightly tugged on your shirt. You turned to look, eyes ablaze.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, boss, but…make it hurt. " She met your gaze briefly before lowering it once more. "I don't know what she did, but if it's something that made you angry, then she deserves it. "

You almost pitied the way she trusted your judgment wholeheartedly, if that wasn't exactly what she was meant to do. You said nothing and gingerly removed her hold on you.

The stairs were rotting and creaky, but you made no attempt to hide your fury as each step you took increased in force.

In front of the staircase was Dawn, tied up with no light behind her eyes. The sight of her would have made you sick two days ago. But tonight flipped everything you once thought about her on its head.

You kneeled to meet her dull gaze.

"Dawn. You and I both know something is very wrong. Now, I have an idea of what you did, but I need you to tell me everything. From the very beginning to now. If I even suspect, if I feel like anything you say is embellished in any way whatsoever, I swear to God, I will drag you up those steps and light you on fire in front of the entire coven. Do you understand? "

She gulped. You motioned for her to start. She licked her lips and began.

"I didn't think that you would mind. It started back in England, when you had that run-in with the bear? You needed rest and they were so cruel, and we couldn't look weak so I just blurted it out that, " She choked up, but you grabbed her face, nails digging into her cheeks.

"What did you tell them, Dawn? "

She blinked, and you saw tears brimming. "That I was the coven leader. " She whispered. Your unbeating heart clenched. "And? " You urged.

"It was just supposed to be one time! I-I just wanted to protect you, protect the coven! And-and then after we starting going to foreign places you said you didn't speak the language of it just kept going and going! I am so so so so sorry. I promise, I won't ever-I'll take it all back! I'll make it known that I am nothing, nothing compared to you! " By the end of her rambling, you had stood, looking down at your once trusted lieutenant.

Her snivels and groveling had you questioning whether you truly knew her at all. You held out your hand and she stopped her pleas.

"You are going to be punished for this. I'm not sure how, I'm not sure when, but you will pay for this transgression. " You tried to keep your voice as level as you could to hide the fact that you were fighting tears.

"No…"

"NO!? " You grab Dawn's hair and force her to look up at you. "You parade as a coven leader for God knows how long, and you have the gall to tell me no?! Have you lost your fucking mind?! " Dawn was shaking her head, but only barely, as the grip you had threatened to scalp her entirely. You only stopped as you heard her whisper.

"I deserve to die for this. Please, just kill me. I can't live with the guilt any longer. "

You dropped her as she crumpled onto the ground, hard. Her sobs ricocheted throughout the space as memories filled your head. How had this brave, intelligent, and loyal individual you once called your friend devolved into this mess?

She screamed at you to kill her as you ascended the stairway once more. The coven had gathered, crowding you to ask for an explanation on Dawn's confinement. You faintly registered Missy's voice demanding the rest of the girls to stay back and allow you to space, but everything was muffled by the blood rushing your ears.

You ignored the faint cries of confusion as you left them behind you, out the door onto the streets of Paris once more.

—

"Armand, sir? Are you there? I'm afraid we're going to have to talk. "

"I prefer the term maître, puce. And why would I allow an audience with you, perchance? "

"Because it is I who is coven leader, not Dawn. I would like to explain the situation face-to-face, if it's not too much of a bother. "

"…Not at all. Please, allow yourself in when you arrive. I will be waiting in my office. "

"Thank you, maître. "

—

Sam met you once again, but that air of playfulness was gone. Only formalities and stiff demeanors were what you were met with at the empty theatre. Except Santiago had a thinly veiled smirk, and you could've sworn you saw him wink, but that was of no importance.

You and Sam stopped in front of a door. "This is it. " He said, lacklusterly.

"Thank you, Sam. Please tell the rest of the troupe that I'm very sorry I couldn't stay and watch the performance. " He stared at you open-mouthed for a moment before nodding once and walking away.

You were about to knock, but was met with a soft 'come in' from inside.

As you opened the door, you made sure to keep your eyes downcast. Perhaps he would be more likely to listen to you if you made yourself smaller.

"A strange strategy you are employing, " His voice made you swallow.

"Sorry, I don't know why I'm not more…assertive. You'd think with how old I am, I'd be more comfortable bossing people around. " You laughed humorlessly.

You couldn't tell, but it seemed like Armand was intrigued.

He hummed. "Please, sit. " He gestured to an empty seat next to where he sat. You obeyed and sighed, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation settle on your shoulders.

"I can't believe this is happening. "

"And what exactly is happening? "

You flickered to him, making contact with his chest covered by a crisp button-up before looking down again.

"It seems like my second in command has gotten a little too comfortable in giving orders. So much so that she decided to act as leader in the faces of other covens. " You rubbed a hand over your face.

"When she told me I was devastated. And then she asked me to, " Your voice broke unexpectedly and you saw Armand cock his head as you continued. "She asked me to kill her. " You finally made eye contact with him. He had a look of slight disbelief.

"I know that everyone is looking to me for answers but, " You shook your head. "I don't have one for this situation. I still lov-I don't want to hurt her. I know I have to, but I just can't. "

Armand pursed his lips. "And what would you have me do about it? "

You blinked, eyes blurred with tears. "What? "

"Are you asking me to do your duty as a coven leader? That would mean defying the very laws we keep in place-"

"Oh, no! No, I'm sorry, that's not what, " You deny. "I would never ask someone to do something like that for me. I just wanted your guidance. "

He looked genuinely stunned for a brief moment before you continued. "Dawn told me you are, forgive me for saying this, a ruthless leader. I thought that once I explained everything to you, you could tell me what to do or where to go from here. " That last part spilled out of you accidently, and you could tell Armand was speechless.

In a last ditch effort to appeal to whatever sympathy he still had, if it even existed, you laid a hand on his. You felt him stiffen, but you remained.

"I have never, in my over four hundred years of life, would have expected to be faced with something like this. Punishments, solitary confinement, starvation, yes. But destroying my closest friend? I'm sorry, but I can't do it. I won't. " You finished, feeling resolved in your choice.

"Then you are a fool. " Your eyes widened, and Armand realized what he said and began to backtrack. But it was too late, you stood from your seat and he quickly followed suit.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend, I simply meant-"

"I understand what you mean, maître. " Your eyes held slight hostility that gave him pause. "Forgive me for taking up your time. I will take my leave, now. " You bowed your head and exited the room.

Armand was frozen. A small part of him, a remnant of his human years expected you to lash out. That coldness reminded him that there were still beings much powerful than him.

But almost none of them were as hesitant to kill disobedient vampires as you were.

—

Your trek back to your coven was suffocating.

On one hand, if you killed Dawn, you would solve the problem. No more misconceptions would happen, your authority would no longer be questioned, and you would be upholding your status as coven leader.

But that would mean killing your closest friend. The one who had been there almost since the beginning. The woman that helped you rise the ranks and convinced the other vampires to join. You told Dawn everything, and she in did in turn.

You couldn't imagine a life without her. But you were being forced to now.

You were met with Missy outside the door, hands clasped and head hung low. Immediately, you were on edge, practically flinging yourself to her. You grabbed onto her shoulders, forcing her to look into your crazed eyes.

"What happened? What did you do, Missy? "

Her mouth gapped, eyes blown. "W-When you left, everyone was so scared and worried. No one was calming down even though I told them to! We-we didn't hear her until it was too late. "

"Too late? Missy, what do you mean too late? What does that mean? " You didn't realize you were digging into her flesh until she lifted your hands to guide you inside.

You smelled her before you saw her.

Dawn. Your best friend and trusted confidant, burned to a crisp on the floor. Your coven went silent at the sight of you. Most of them hid their faces, some were emotionless.

The last thing you remember was falling to the ground and screaming.

—

You aren't sure about how much time has passed before you wake. You were back in the room you shared with the rest of your coven, you recognized it from the wood pattern of the ceiling. But something was wrong. You couldn't sense anyone from the coven in the building.

A hand began stroking your hair and tilting your head back to coax flesh into your mouth. You just assumed it was eager Missy wanting to bring you back to health, and started suckling.

The hum that came from the person you thought was Missy, however, was masculine and low.

Your eyes shot open, pausing your feeding to look at who it was.

Amber pupils stared down at you.

"Armand? " You croaked out, throat sore from unuse.

"Yes? " He tilted his head.

"What are you doing here? " You tried to sit up, but a splitting pain burst from behind your eyelids. He shushed you and once more guided you to drink. You were deeply, deeply perturbed, but in an effort to appease him that you didn't fully understand, you complied.

"I was retrieved by your member, Missy. She was distraught, saying you were 'out of control' and 'going crazy', " His voice changed to mimic Missy's cadence, and you were disturbed by how easily his accent faded.

"When I arrived, you were catatonic, covered in blood. " Your eyes widened, but he continued. "No one was hurt. Except yourself. You were bleeding seemingly from everywhere, I've never seen anything like it. " You were about to open your mouth to apologize, but he kept his arm firmly in place.

"Me and Missy took it upon ourselves to nurse you back to health. " He shook his head, likely reminiscing on Missy's tendency to suffocate with love. You unlatched your mouth from his wrist, hoping he would allow you to talk. He obliged and you began.

"Maître-"

"Armand, for you. "

"…Armand. Thank you for helping me get better, I truly appreciate it. But now that I'm awake and better, I think it would be best if you returned to your coven. I'm sure they're wondering where you are by now-"

"You mean our coven? " His eyes were surprisingly playful for someone who spent a good amount of time watching over an unconscious vampire.

"What? " Your tongue felt like lead in your mouth.

"For the time you were out of commission, I have taken it upon myself to integrate your coven and mine as one. Now, it wasn't my idea, Missy does have a way with words-"

You stopped his explanation by wrapping a hand around his throat and bringing his face uncomfortably close to yours.

"Armand. How long have I been unconscious for that you made the decision to combine our covens? "

His throat made a slight gurgling sound. "Two months. "

You gasped and released him from your hold. You ran your fingers through your hair, grasping the strands tightly.

"This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This is a dream, a big, nasty dream-" His hands wrapped around yours, gently guiding you to let go of your scalp.

"This is no dream. You are awake and alive. Listen to me, " He tilted your head up and his face was so fond you almost flinched away.

"Everything is going to be fine. Everyone has acclimated to this change rather well. And your members have missed you very much. " You controlled your breathing before responding.

"What does this make me? " He furrowed his brows. "Am I even a coven leader anymore? Or are you.." You trailed off, unwilling to ask the question just yet.

Armand smiled. "I was under the impression you wanted a hiatus from leading. But I am open to sharing the position, if that pleases you. "

You gulped. Finally, a chance to break from this position that has caused you so much pain and heartbreak. It only took losing your best friend to get you that.

You should've never come to Paris.