Mel

"I made you into my Pet!"

He stopped thinking, as it only made it worse. All he remembered of that dreadful walk was the clack of his boots on the marble floor. Not the flickers of the torches on the icy corridor, not the winter wind hitting the opening of his shirt, with piercing cold. He willfully dissociated from the world around him, he couldn't concentrate on anything, he couldn't focus his vision on anything but the marble floor he was walking on. He did everything in his power to not lift his gaze and see her.

Lenore gently tugged his arm as she led him, she knew she had her work cut out for her, but she accepted the challenge. She heard his steady breath behind her. His heartbeat, returning to normalcy. The quivers of his muscles subsiding. She knew her touch was the last thing he wants right now, but it was the only thing that helped him get back on his feet. After what seemed like an eternity of twisting and turning in what appeared like a labyrinth she finally stopped.

Hector realised they had stopped once he began to hear only one set of footsteps, his. He finally lifted his gaze off of the icy marble floor and rested it on an 8 foot tall mahogany double door, with intricate floral carvings.

Lenore pushed her small delicate right hand through, revealing a furnished bedroom with a red carpet. It was half the size of the council room they just left from. It was a classic set up, in the center, a large king sized bed with black velvet sheets proudly stood besides a desk and dressir. The desk had a few parchments lying on it with a quill stand and an ink chamber. No doubt, thats where she writes her diplomatic letters. The large window to the right displayed the room’s content to the icy mountains of Styria. Through the corner, away from the crowd, stood an inconspicuous corridor that lead to the bathroom. A simple steel chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting its cold flames against the marble floor. A red velvet carpet covered most of the floor, reflecting the night and the blood.

"I'm afraid your chambers will take a day or two to finish. The mason is a talented man but I want to make sure that you're given quality. So I guess I'll be keeping you in here, in my chambers for the time being"

She put it so non chalantly as she let go of his hand to rummage through the dresser. She took several different tunics and assessed them. She gave a satisfactory hum as she found one that seemed to meet her liking.

"There!"

She presented a simple Blue Tunic, woven of silk.

"This will bring out the color of your eyes!"

Nothing, he was still too dazed to even acknowledge the happenings around him.

"Hello, Pretty boy? What's going on in that silly little head of yours?"

Lenore cheerfully chided him. It was at that moment that Hector returned to reality. Everything materialised and he noticed her holding the tunic in front of him. It became painfully aware to him that he was now in her chambers.

"Now now Hector, you don't expect me to dress you up now? Do you?"

She hithered, a wink followed at the end of her sentence. Her cheeky smile showing a hint of fang. She couldn't help with her sultry tone throughout.

"I don't want anything from you"

He muttered under his breath. Doing everything he can to defy her whims. Even if they were for his benefit.

"Nonsense! This tunic is of fine silk. It's far more comfortable and better than the rags that you've been wearing until now. It'll even help keep you warm in our walks!"

She was taken aback. She was hoping a change of scenery and new clothes would loosen him up but clearly that wasn't the case.

"I don't know Lenore. It's not like I have a say in the matter, now that I'm your slave!"

He grumbled. Arms now crossed and eyes dangerously narrowed. There wasn't necessarily venom behind those words. Just exhaustion.

At this, she sighed, she set the tunic aside, gently placing it on the desk and crossed her arms. Crossing her arms, she pouted. Her eyes, narrowed, indicating tiredness but at the same time they had an understanding glare, there was no hint of irritation, or anger. She relaxed herself and smiled again. Resting her arm on the chair of the desk.

She had her work cut out for her when it came to him. She reminded herself. But she'll be patient. And she'll make him understand.

"You're not my Slave Hector! You're my Pet ! They're two different positions. As my pet I'll take care of you. I'll protect you from Carmilla's wrath. I'll shower you with my affections and I'll be your voice in front of my Sisters. And I already told you. Your chambers will be ready soon and you'll also have the freedom of the castle!"

She calmly and methodically put it as she gently gestured towards him with her arm. She didn't hide her smile when she mentioned about showering him with her affections which was accentuatated with the blush on her porcelain cheeks. The twinkle in her ember eyes strengthened as she talked about it, with a warm, pleading looking in her eyes, beckoning him to see the positives.

"I don't care about that Lenore! I trusted you! I pledged my life away to you! I thought you wanted to run away with me! You took my trust and spat it back on my face!"

He growled, his voice, husky. Clear

Venom was imbued on those words of his this time. Hector suppressed the urge to execute every conceivable act of defiance, just to spite her. He thought of attacking her again like the time when she first visited his cell bearing gifts of peace. He hoped that she would overpower him like last time and accidentally kill him in the process. Or even better, He thought of running out of her room and jumping out of the corridor, into the stone cold courtyard below. Dying would be certainly preferable than losing what little remained of his dignity. Little by little he gave in to those urges. The sweet release from his dehumanizing servitude sweetened it's allure with each passing moment.

But before he could pour actual intent to his thoughts he could feel a slight buzzing on his finger. The finger where the ring rested. It started to tingle. Burn even. Lenore's voice from the council room echoed.

"These rings are linked, you wear them and his creatures will be loyal to you too. And if he ever tries to harm us, take the ring off or tries to run away the ring will cause him so much pain that he would think he shat out his own heart"

He knew then and there that even his own death won't happen on his terms. She controlled everything in the end. She gets to decide when he would die. She gets to dictate his life from now on. He was stuck in a gilded cage.

A defeated exhale left his mouth as he resigned himself. It was over. She enslaved every aspect of his life, from the way he would live, his death and even the most intimate aspect, the one thing that defined him, his forging. He collapsed on his knees again, but this time on the soft carpet instead of the painfully cold icy marble floor. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he clutched his head.

"Hector!"

Lenore glid over to him, not making a sound. She bent down and wrapped her arms around his shoulders once again as she tugged them towards her. Bringing his head to her chest.

She couldn't bear to see him like this. She knew he was hurting, she knew she was the cause of it. But there was no other way to secure his life. It was the only way she could make sure to keep him safe as well as placate her sisters' wrath, especially Carmilla. They needed tangible proof of his loyalty to the Styrian cause. And the rings were the only way. She gently caressed his silver hair. As she properly took in the state this poor boy was in. He needed someone to care for him, to guide him.

His tense frame began to relax. The aching muslces began to loosen up. He was leaning into her touch. How he hated it.

This woman is the source of your damnation damnit!

But she also felt so good. So so good.

Her tender touch soothed the ache of his heart. Her embrace made him feel safe. Feel wanted.

But before Lenore could ponder over the next course of action to take she heard him grunt and felt his body jerk away from her touch.

He took a step back, breathing hardly. Clear disgust displayed on his face as he defiantly grimaced. He steeled himself yet again.

"No...not again"

A hoarse whisper escaped his lips as he fought back the tears. His ironclad resolve bringing about a second wind to his body. That resilience of his was one of the qualities she admired in Hector. No normal man would've survived the hell Carmilla put him through, making him march 800 miles from Brailla to Styria, for a month when Winter was at its peak.

He was Carmilla's personal punching bag, a medium for her to blow off some steam after her failed coup on Dracula. The very Dracula whom Hector served. And not simply serve, he was one of the two humans, two Forgemasters, whom Dracula made his close confidants, his trusted human generals to organize the war effort on their own kind, the very kind that ostracized them and turned them into outcasts, Dracula sought their counsel and help once he decided that humanity had no valid reason to exist after they killed his human wife.

Carmilla managed to persuade Hector to see reason. The Old man had gone mad, he lied to Hector, he wasn't simply going to cull the Human race and put the survivors in pens as he promised the naive boy, He was going to purge them all.

"Hector please-"

"No!"

He spat back. He was at his wits end and if this went on any longer, he would give out. His shoulders rising and falling with each weary breath. His Silver locks swaying with each breath as they framed his face. Aquamarine Eyes glinting from the torches in her chambers.There was grace in every movement of his. Even when he was at his worst, even when he was beaten down and naked in the cell. Even when he was inside her. He looked graceful. Lenore mused.

"You're all the same! You and Carmilla, you come bearing false gifts of peace. You talk about how you're looking out for me with your kind words only to plunge the dagger from behind once I've expended my usefulness!"

The Bloody Audacity. She thought.

As much as she loved her sister, Lenore always abhorred violence. She refused to accept that dominance and subjugation is the solution to every problem. She prided herself in her diplomacy. Getting their rivals under the fold without senseless violence was one of her many accomplishments as the Diplomat of the quartet. Unlike Carmilla, Lenore doesn't believe in violence, she believes in commerce. You get something I get something and we both leave happy. There's a degree of compromise involved as neither of the parties get what they want but there's also the satisfaction.

For her, Violence was always a last resort. Yes, she beat Hector during her first visit to his cell, but that was only out of retaliation. He attacked her first, grabbing her throat, threatening to rip it out if she didn't let him go. But there was no malice behind his actions, it was more akin to a skittled puppy lashing out of fear than anything. A wounded animal frantically trying to save itself. If only Carmilla didn't beat the shit out of him and made him march 800 miles, chained up and without his boots, if only her sister tried to reason with the man again and gave him a purpose to work for them. Things would've been different. That's how it always is. Carmilla loses her temper and Lenore has to implement damage control.

She convinced Hector that what they're doing is exactly what he thought Dracula promised him, a cull. Conquering the region between Styria and Brailla and fortifying their new empire and securing the livestock. The plan guaranteed their safety for centuries to come but they didn't have the man power to execute it yet. Their army dealt severe casualties during the siege at Brailla. Things were going as per their plan until an outside party teleported Dracula's castle away and killed him themselves. Dracula was dead, and the vacuum that his death caused in the Vampire power structure was too good to be passed up. Hector's army of night creatures will help secure their expanded empire, or greater

Styria as Carmilla calls it. She convinced him of their plan. Now she must convince him that his current position is for his own good, that this is what he truly needed. She didn't lie when she said she liked him. She does. But she's loyal to her sisters first and foremost. But once she brings Hector into her fold he'll be hers. Her own little slice of cake for an eternity to enjoy for. But for that she must put in the work.

She knew that Hector, as he is right now won't be able to listen to reason. A plan already forming in her mind.

"Alright Hector, I understand that you're in no state to listen to what I've to say. I can't blame you.

As much as I would like to spend the entire night, to stay by your side and ease you into it I can't. I have urgent matters to attend to to. So in the meantime, please make yourself at home. There's the corridor leading to the bath. I can't have you in this miserable condition, now that you're under my care. There's the tunic I selected for you on the dresser. If you don't like it then please choose your pick from the collection. I'll have a servant bring you proper food, god's you must be starving. There are books here that you might like. I probably won't be back until sunrise. So please, make yourself comfortable and get ample rest in the meantime. We'll talk once you're in a better state of mind"

She gave a reassuring smile, there was not a single hint of exasperation behind those ruby irises. She was being genuine. Her small delicate hand pushed through the huge Mahogany door again and she ventured out. The click-clack of her heels fading out.

Hector let out a breath of relief. He didn't know how much more he could take it. To breath the same air as that woman. To share the same space as her. But he was more disgusted of the fact that he was upset when she left. But he tried his best in hiding it. He knew if he didn't then she would know she still had some leverage over his heart. She had his forging skills, but he will never come to her willingly.

He won't offer himself to her like he did in that cell. He would forge away night creatures to the quartet's content, to her content, but he will never give her the satisfaction of seeing him like she did in that cell.

But she did make sense, he was dirty and exhausted. He swatted some grime that collected on his temples with his arm. He sure could use a bath. Part of him wanted to spite her and sleep on the floor, unwashed. Like a disobedient dog. But he was too tired for anymore theatrics. If he were to live in this gilded cage, he might as well allow himself a few basic comforts. Just a few.

You shivered in the freezing cold, following your mistresses down to greet your other mistress, Carmilla. You stood behind Striga and Lenore, keeping your head down and eyes on the ground, hoping not to draw any attention towards yourself. You listened as the sisters greeted each other and Carmilla complained and complained about the long journey she had, her soldiers marching past her into the castle. You noticed at the very end, a man with silver hair was being dragged along by a chain on his neck, his hands tied in front of him and his boots missing. He looked extremely battered and exhausted, and your stomach churned, knowing the feeling all too well. He made eye contact with you as he passed, until he was tugged harshly to continue following the soldiers down to the dungeons.

“Y/N, go warm some water for my bath. And make it a good one.” Carmilla ordered you. “It better be ready after I have a drink with my sisters.”

“Yes, mistress.” You bowed, before heading to collect frozen water to heat up for her bath. You carried the frozen buckets of water to the fireplace to warm them up, dripping Carmilla’s specific combination of essential oils into her bath. You lit candles as normal, and kept the water warm until she arrived, immediately stripping naked and getting in the tub. You kneeled down and began to scrub her aching feet, as she sighed contently in the warm water.

“Your Kind is so despicable, Y/N. I don’t know HOW you survived all those years without me.” Carmilla grumbled, still agitated from her long march in the freezing tundras.

“Me neither, mistress. Thank you for saving me.” You said without a thought, used to thanking her for kidnapping you and beating you into submission until you complied with her and her sisters’ every order. She often spoke about how lucky you were that she found you, and how you’d be dead in a ditch without her.

“Oh, get out. I need time alone. You’re dismissed for the night.” She waved her hand in your face, before sinking into the water. You bowed to her, before quickly leaving her to relax for the night. Sunrise would thankfully be soon, your time to roam as you wished and do as you pleased.

You thought about the poor man they had dragged in, how pathetic he looked, bags under his pretty blue eyes and cuts scattered across his face and hands. His feet were probably frozen numb, and you knew the guards probably stripped him of his clothing, along with his humanity. You found yourself wandering to the kitchen, grabbing bread and a fresh apple and stuffing them into your pockets. You walked down to the dungeons, giving the guard a few coins for his silence before looking around for the man. You finally spotted him in a cell, huddled in the corner and embracing himself. He was shivering, and you couldn’t tell if he was crying or not, but you wouldn’t blame him if he was. You approached his cell, kneeling down and taking out the food from your pockets.

“I brought you some food.” You spoke, and he slowly looked up at you. His face was strong, but his eyes were soft and filled with fear. He was trying to mask it and remain tough, but you could see right through that facade.

“Why would you do that? Don’t you work for them?” He asked, spatting the word ‘them’.

“I do. But only for fun.” You joked, holding the food out to him, reaching into his cell. He looked at the guard in worry, but eventually crawled towards you, taking the food and immediately digging in. “I’m sorry I couldn’t bring you clothing or a blanket. They would notice. My name is Y/N, what is yours?”

“Hector.” He said simply between bites, scarfing down the food like he hadn’t eaten in days, which, he probably hasn’t.

“Well, Hector, I also brought you this.” You duh into your pocket and grabbed a small bottle. “It’s an ointment, for your wounds. There is much disease in these cells.”

He carefully took the bottle from you, finishing his food quickly and leaning against the wall, pulling his knees up to his chest to hide his nude body from you.

“Why are you helping me?” He asked, looking down at the ground.

“Because I know what it’s like to be treated like this by them. I know how cruel and careless they are.” You admitted, sitting down fully.

“You do?” He looked up at you, gazing into your eyes.

“Yes. I’m a human, like you. They took me a couple of years ago, maybe longer. I’m now their lady-in-waiting.”

“How come they haven’t turned you, then? I thought they hated humans.”

“They do, which is why they don’t turn me. They want me to know I’m below them. Weaker than them.” You explained, fidgeting with the skirt of your dress. “They treated me like they do you. They broke me down years ago. Kept me around for their amusement, and so I could serve them and they don’t lift a finger. Why did they take you, Hector?”

“I’m a forgemaster. Carmilla wants me to make night creatures for her.” He sighed. “I should’ve run away when I had the chance. I can’t believe I trusted her.”

“Don’t blame yourself. They’re expert manipulators.”

“Y/N! WHERE ARE YOU, GIRL?” You jumped when you heard the booming voice of Striga, calling for you.

“I must leave. I will try to bring you more food tomorrow. Rotten meat with maggots isn’t exactly sustaining.”

“I quite like the maggots, actually. They add a nice crunch.” He smiled playfully, despite his situation. It made you smile back, at least until you heard your name being shouted again, and you bolted off so you wouldn’t get in trouble for speaking to the prisoner.

You continued to visit Hector while the vampiresses were asleep, providing him with fresh food and what comfort you brought him. You asked about his occupation as a forgemaster, curious as to why Carmilla needed one so bad. He often had fresh injuries when you visited, and you would reach through the bars of the cell to rub ointment into the ones he couldn’t reach on his back. One day, he wasn’t in his cell, and when you asked the guard (and gave him some coins), he told you he had been moved into the “luxurious cells”. You scoffed at that. A cage was still a cage, no matter how nice it looked. But you made your way to the other cells, ducking behind the wall when you saw Lenore standing at Hector’s cell. You peeked around it, watching her tug on a leash attached to Hector’s neck, forcing him forward, taking it off of him. You felt a pang of both jealousy and disgust when she called him a ‘good boy’, possession and venom dripping from her words. You hid again as she turned to leave, and once she was gone, you rushed over to his cell.

“Are you alright?” You asked, heart sinking when you saw a blush on his cheeks.

“I’m fine.”

“Hector, she’s tricking you. She doesn’t care about you.” You grabbed his cell bars, trying to make him listen. “Lenore is a-“

“Is a what?”

Your blood went cold when you heard her voice, right behind you. You shivered in fear, eyes wide and body frozen in terror as you felt her cold hand harshly grab your shoulder, her claws digging in and drawing blood.

“Lenore, don’t harm her.” Hector warned her.

“Or what? What exactly will you do?” She asked, before throwing you across the room with her superhuman strength, hitting the wall and falling to the floor.

“Lenore! She was helping me! Leave her be!” Hector grabbed the bars this time, now trying to make her listen to him.

“Helping you?” She laughed bitterly as she walked over to you, grabbing your hair to make you look up at her. “Well, Carmilla is not going to be pleased that her pet was playing with mine now, will she?”

“Mistress, please don’t-“

“I am not the one to beg mercy from, Y/N. You should know this by now.”

Hector yelled at Lenore and for you as Lenore dragged you away, up to Carmilla’s grand study, throwing you onto her table.

“Can I help you?” Carmilla asked Lenore, glaring down at you with disgust.

“It appears our pets have been getting friendly with each other. She’s been helping Hector this whole time.”

“Oh really?” Carmilla glowered down at you, grabbing your hair harshly and holding you up by it, lifting you off her table.

“M-Mistress, I’m sorry! Please, mercy!” You begged, clenching your jaw at the pain of being held off the floor by your hair. “I-I just wanted to help!”

“Well, my dear sweet Y/N, you helped the wrong person.” Carmilla bared her teeth. “I gave you free roam of the castle, I saved your life, and this is how you repay me?”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, please!” You cried, feeling your scalp starting to bleed.

“I’ll leave you to it. I should probably discipline Hector as well.” Lenore said smugly, grinning at you before exiting her sisters study, leaving you alone with the merciless vampire.

Hours later, you stood beside Carmilla in the sister’s meeting room. She held a leash attached to your neck, the collar on too tight and dried blood coating your face and shoulders from the beating you endured from her. Your hands were folded politely in front of you, eyes fixed on the ground below as you didn’t dare move an inch from your mistress. They talked and bickered about their plan, various maps set out on the table with their wine glasses filled with blood. Carmilla had already drank from your neck, pure virgins blood remained her favorite to drain out of you until you went pale, but not enough to kill you. You didn’t move when you heard the door open behind you, but knew Hector was there when Carmilla complained about a man being in their quarters. You looked at him out of the corner of his eye, seeing he was confused and hurt by Lenore in some way you didn’t know yet. He looked at the collar tightened around your neck, guilt flashing in his eyes when he saw all the blood and bruises littering your face.

You listened in horror as Lenore boasted to her sisters about what she did to Hector, binding him to her through deceit and manipulation. You felt sick when she asked for a large bed in his room so she could “train him”, and silenced Hector when he tried to say something.

“Hm. Do you think you could make one for Y/N? She’s been disobedient, so I tethered her to myself to make sure she can’t do things behind my back anymore. But this ring would be so much easier, then I don’t have to keep her around me all the time.” Carmilla asked her sister, ignoring your look of horror you gave her at the idea.

“I’m already a step ahead of you, sister.” Lenore smiled, tossing her two rings for the both of you.

You fell to your knees, hands gripping Carmilla’s thighs, tears streaming down your face.

“Mistress, please! I’ll be good, I promise! Please don’t do this! I beg of you!” You pleaded, glossy eyes looking up at her with desperation.

“Oh, I love it when you do that, Y/N.” She smiled, one hand holding your chin. “But if you hadn’t betrayed me, I wouldn’t have to do this. Now would I? This is your fault, I’m only doing this because I have to, dear.”

You whimpered as she grabbed your wrist, shoving the ring onto your finger.

“Now, be a good girl and pledge your loyalty to me.” She said, running a hand through your hair, scrapping your sore and bloody scalp.

“I-I…I p-pledge my loyalty to y-you.” You cried out in pain as soon as those words left your mouth, feeling the magic piercing your skin and binding you to Carmilla. She pet your hair and shushed you, letting you cry into her lap as your body trembled pathetically.

“Good girl.” She smiled, before turning to Lenore. “You really are a genius, sister.”

“I know.” Lenore said cockily, before jumping off the table and grabbing Hectors arm, dragging him with her. His gaze lingered onto you, feeling as if it was his fault for this to be done to you as well. But you knew it was inevitable, Carmilla would’ve done this even if you hadn’t helped him, she liked the power over you too much.

“Now, darling, you are not to speak to Hector again. Do you understand me?” Carmilla asked you as you calmed down, sobs slowly dissolving into silent tears.

“Yes, mistress.” You said numbly, but sighed in relief when she took the collar that choked you off.

“Good. Now, off you go. Go clean yourself up, you look dreadful.”

You staggered out of the room, clutching your dress in your hands as you willed yourself to stop crying. Any freedom and humanity you had left was just stripped away, taken from you without a second thought or care in the world. You now felt empty and numb, the hopelessness overtaking your mind as you made your way to gather water for your own bath. You sank into the warm water, letting it comfort you like an embrace would, gently washing the blood out of your hair and off of your body. You wished you could wash the spell away, but no matter how hard you scrubbed, it wouldn’t leave you. You headed to bed soon after, curling into yourself and crying yourself to sleep.

The next few days went about as normal, Carmilla ordering you to do random chores and bring her glasses of blood, sometimes making you drain your own blood for her. You did as you were asked, it wasn’t like you had much of a choice. You were still allowed to roam as you wished in the daytime, but if you went too close to Hector, your ring burned like fire and it felt as if swords were piercing your body. You felt incredibly lonely like you had before he arrived, but even more afraid than before. You constantly worried about what Lenore was doing to Hector behind closed doors, and unbeknownst to you, he too was worried about what Carmilla was doing to you. Lenore treated you more harshly than she ever had, making it known to you that she was not pleased with you befriending Hector. After she saw you watch as Hector walked past the room you were in, she approached you, grabbing your neck and hoisting you up to be level with her face.

“I know exactly what you are thinking. I suggest you cease those impure thoughts about what is mine.” She warned, smile still soft but eyes filled with hatred.

“I-I don’t know what you mean, mistress-“ you stammered, yelping when she slapped you across the face.

“Lie to me again, I dare you.” She hissed. “Hector is mine, do you understand? He will never love you, he doesn’t even look you in the eye anymore. So quit wasting your time filling your pretty little head with such delusions. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” You nodded as best you could, coughing when she finally let you go. She turned to leave, looking back at you with a devious grin.

“I understand your desire for him, of course. I know you saw that cock of his. It feels better than it looks.” She cackled at you, before finally leaving you alone. You choked back tears, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing she got to you. You rushed to your room to cry in peace, instead seeing a letter resting on your pillow. You picked it up and opened it, reading the name at the bottom and seeing it was from Hector.

‘Y/N. I know you’re being forced to keep away from me, I am not angry with you, I’ve been avoiding you too so that I don’t get you into anymore trouble because of me. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you about Lenore, I thought she truly cared about me. How wrong I was. But I’ve been alone with my thoughts for awhile now, and I’ve come to conclusion that I want to help you. I care for you as you cared for me when I arrived, and I don’t want you to suffer on my behalf anymore. You don’t deserve this treatment, and neither do I. I have a plan for escape for us both, I will help you gain your complete freedom back. Wait for another letter from me, but in the meantime, avoid me at all costs. They can’t know we’re speaking again.

Burn this so that they don’t know I’ve reached out. -Hector’

You held the letter to your chest, tears dripping onto your bedding. Nobody had ever wanted to help you before, and if they did it was out of their own self interest. It had been so long since someone showed you any compassion or kindness, and him wanting to help you escape this life gave you a new sense of hope. You did as instructed and burned the letter, and checked your bed often for the next letter. You didn’t see much of Hector for the next week, only catching glimpses of him in the library , and you didn’t dare wander near his work place upstairs. You received a letter with the details of his plan later in the week, with detail of what you needed to do to stay out of danger. He told you about how he would trap Lenore, and allow her to be killed by the sunlight in the morning. Due to her manipulation and his messy feelings towards her, he didn’t have the heart to kill her himself. But Hector wasn’t a killer in the first place, he gave beings life and showed them kindness and empathy, something those vampires lacked.

The plan would be carried out that night, before the sun would rise. You did your chores as usual, not showing any unusual behavior or giving them any reason to be suspicious. You served Carmilla her chalice of blood for her study session, before bowing and leaving her to her work. Striga and Morana were away, all you had to worry about now was Lenore, arguably the worst. You wandered the castle with caution, trying to pinpoint where she was, and when you couldn’t find her, you came to the conclusion she was up at Hector’s workshop. You were supposed to meet him up there, but you didn’t want to risk Lenore hurting either one of you.

A shiver ran up your spine when you heard the screech of night creatures, and in your panic, you feet took you straight to safety; to Hector. It took you a few tries to find his workshop, stumbling up stairs as the castle shook from the attacks of the night creatures. When you finally saw him, a blue magic cage was blocking the doorway, holding Lenore inside of it.

“Hector!” You shouted, his eyes immediately finding yours.

“Y/N! You’re okay!” He smiled getting close to the cage as he could. You ignored the pain from the ring, face contouring in pain, but your smile remained.

“What is this?! Hector!” Lenore raged, glaring daggers at you. “How have you two been conspiring? The rings wouldn’t allow you two to speak!”

“We haven’t said a word to each other in weeks.” Hector said, facial expression stiffening into anger. “We didn’t see each other at all. But I have other ways of communication that you missed, along with the devices I’ve put about the castle. There’s a lot you didn’t see.”

You turned around when you heard the screeching and growls of night creatures, coming up the stairs towards you. You backed up against the cage as much as you could as the creatures approached you, and dark man in capes leading them. You looked at them with fear, knowing night creatures to eat and tear apart anything they wished.

“I do not mean you harm.” The man told you, stepping up to you. “But if you would mind moving, that would be appreciated.”

You stepped aside and he opened the cage with his enchanted sword, allowing you through as well. Lenore had half a mind to tackle you right then and there, but with the man between you she didn’t, instead just glaring. Hector stepped back as you entered the room, not wanting to cause you any pain from the ring. You wanted so desperately to touch him and be near him, but he didn’t want to hurt you any more, keeping his distance as he spoke with his colleague. You watched as he suddenly asked for his friends knife, and you tilted your head in confusion until you saw him bring it to his finger, cutting the ring off of him. His severed finger and ring clattered to the floor, blood dripping and sweat beading on his forehead as he allowed his friend to cauterize the wound with the same knife. Hector took the knife back, giving you a look that asked for your permission. You nodded, hissing in pain as he stepped closer, and crying when he took your hand in his, quickly slicing your own finger off. As soon as the ring fell off, it was like taking a breath of fresh air. You didn’t feel that weight on your shoulders or the fear in the back of your mind anymore, and the physical pain melted away immediately.

“Thank you, Isaac.” Hector said as he handed the knife back to him.

“Of course. Now, I’m off to slay Carmilla. See you on the other side, my friend.” Isaac said, taking the amulet Hector made for him and leaving the room. Hector turned back to you, a soft smile adorning his pretty face.

“Let’s wrap that up, sit.” He gestured to a chair, going to his supplies and finding bandages for the both of you. He wrapped your hand up first worrying about his own only after he asked if your bandage was too tight.

“May I hug you?” You asked suddenly. The adrenaline had made your walls come down, too full of a new hope for life that you didn’t even think to be embarrassed. Hector smiled at you, opening his arms for you to embrace him. Your arms immediately wrapped around him, the first time you’d ever been able to truly touch him since you had met all those weeks ago. You savored the feeling of his own arms wrapped around your body, his chin resting on your shoulder and your face buried in his chest.

“This is nice.” Hector grinned, pulling away slightly to look at you. “Thank you, Y/N. For everything you did for me. You were the first person to show me genuine kindness.” He smiled, before looking at Lenore, who simply glared at the both of you.

“I knew I needed to help you as soon as I laid my eyes upon your face.” You said, leaning in slightly towards his face. “You too were the first person to show me kindness in a very long time, Hector. I…I love you.”

His eyes widened slightly at that, a blush creeping up to his cheeks.

“Oh, please!” Lenore shouted from her cage. “The two of you barely know each other! This is ridiculous!”

“Yes, because you know me so well.” Hector rolled his eyes at her. “Let me put her on the balcony so we can have a real conversation, okay?”

You nodded and let go of him, letting him argue with Lenore and move her somewhere else so she didn’t bother you. You gasped when a force exploded somewhere in the castle, shaking the whole structure with such force. But you felt something else as well…freedom. That man Isaac really did it and killed Carmilla, you could feel it. It immediately brought tears to your eyes, and you began weeping. It had been so long being under Carmilla’s hold, the feeling of her hands being pried off your shoulders was overwhelming. You hadn’t felt like this in years, it almost scared you. You never thought you had a future away from this castle, away from your mistresses. You’d assumed you’d be serving them until the day you died, and probably by their own hands. The relief washed over you, overwhelming you.

“Y/N? What’s wrong?” Hector asked as he reentered the room, kneeling down in front of you.

“Nothing…nothing at all.” You smiled at him through tears, continuing to sob from the feeling. “I just…I really do love you, Hector.”