#vampire!epel

“NO?!?” Epel was the one who loudly echoed Vil’s answer in shock since, honestly, I wasn’t surprised.

Vil looked over at the lavender-haired young man, his expression already schooled back into a more neutral one as his brows arched slightly and he merely repeated himself, “No.” 

I almost cringed at the utterly smooth way he said it. At least the first time there had been a slight waver, but this time there hadn’t been any hesitation.

“Vil-”

“I’m not biting you, Tater Tot. Not when so much could go wrong,” His tone was scolding, and for a moment I almost forgot about the way his eyes had widened and glistened when I’d first told him that he was my choice.

I didn’t have to protest his words, though. As ever, Rook was a true friend and had my back. 

Meaning that he was grasping Epel and murmuring to him about how they really needed to give us some space.

I felt my hands ball into fists as I stood, “Vil. There isn’t much of a choice. Either you bite me and I go in there that way, or-”

His eyes had already narrowed before the door even clicked shut behind the arguing Epel and Rook, “Or what? I doubt any of the friends you made will be willing to bite you either. We’ll have to find another option.”

Something snapped inside me at his heavy-handed refusal, and I felt my jaw clench. Not entirely knowing what it was about this situation that had me so off-kilter. Distantly, I knew there was something off. Something that clearly indicated I’d finally hit the breaking point in all of this and was just too stressed and desperate.

But that quiet part inside of me was not enough to stop me.

“Actually, someone already has offered.”

The sharp words were out before I could stop them, and Vil froze. His eyes locked on to me as he quite literally stopped breathing or even blinking.

And I inhaled as everything seemed to register with me at once as I stared at him while he held my gaze. A special sort of venom in his eyes that almost had me swallowing.

And it was impressive that even in a moment like this I still was struck by his appearance. But he was like a flawless statue. Too perfect to actually exist, and yet here he was in front of me.

“Who?” His voice was icy, and I was already shaking my head. Because I knew I shouldn’t have even brought up Malleus’s offer, and some part of me already regretted it.

But Vil was slowly standing, “Who offered Tater Tot, and why?”

I crossed my arms, still irritated even though I knew perfectly well that I was going to regret this the same way I always regretted these sorts of overly heated and typically emotional arguments.

“Malleus. He said that if I ever wanted to become a vampire, he would be willing to help.”

Silence filled the room as we stared each other down until Vil finally spoke, his voice filled with bitterness that perfectly mirrored the tone of our conversation, “I’m sure he would like to ‘help.’”

I chewed at my lip frustratedly as I looked away from him. Some small part of me wondered how our conversation had taken so swift of a turn and why I’d reacted the way I had to his refusal.

Because I’d known it would be likely. I knew Vil. He didn’t like to put me at any risk, so there was no way he’d like this plan.

I inhaled, forcing myself to breathe and calm down even despite everything. I’d made it this far without snapping, and while my words from mere seconds ago certainly weren’t a good reflection of that, I could finish this without taking all of my frustrations out on Vil.

“Look. I get why you hate this idea, but there aren't any other options. Or at least not any obvious ones. Either you bite me so that the vampire lady won’t go absolutely mad the moment she sees me, or I go in there as I am.”

I spread my hands as if to emphasize my current state. Exhausted, largely undefended, and at a loss.

And Vil was already shaking his head, his brow furrowing, “Absolutely not. There has to be another way that doesn’t put you at risk.”

“There isn’t, Vil. And I think we both know that I don’t really have time to be wasting. More and more people are getting attacked by insane vampires the longer this goes on. Two of the newest vampires in the Heartslabyul clan are victims. Recent victims.”

Vil shook his head, something akin to understanding warring with the frustration in his eyes, “Stopping the insane vampires isn’t going to stop people from getting turned.”

“But it will slow it down! Vil, I can do something about this rather than just sitting around doing nothing like I have ever since vampires started following me! I know you don’t want me putting myself in danger, but this is the best-”

“NO, it’s NOT!” I blinked at his sudden shout, half-startled by the fact he’d even yelled when that was something he so seldom did. I almost shook my head, about to reassure him, but he wasn’t done.

In fact, he was on a roll.

“Putting yourself in danger is not the best answer, Y/n! It never is! I don’t care what Crowley, you, or anyone else believes; I won’t have it. Not when I care about you, even if you don’t care about yourself!”

My mouth opened, and then closed, and then opened again as he continued. 

But I didn’t know if I’d ever seen him so heated about anything. In fact, it almost seemed out of character for him. Like he’d finally been pushed too far. Just like I had been.

And even as I slowly realized exactly how messy this entire conversation had gotten in a mere instant, two simple parts of what he said echoed within my mind. 

The first, that I didn’t care about myself. Which wasn’t true, but also made sense. I knew what he meant by that. That I didn’t take good enough care of myself.

But the second part, which swirled about condemningly in my mind and tortured me, was that he cared for me.

I’d known that already, of course, but my mind twisted the words. Toying with my heart as I thought of my own feelings, and I felt myself shaking my head.

And when my voice came out, it sounded oddly hollow while simultaneously being loaded with complicated emotions, “That’s not fair.”

Vil stopped mid-motion. His eyes locking onto me as he seemingly realized that he’d made some sort of mistake, and I slowly shook my head again. Realizing all too soon why my voice sounded so hollow.

My throat was tight, and I no longer knew whether to feel hurt or indignant as I attempted to swallow everything down before it could overwhelm me.

But instead, it came out in a tumble of words in a far too-wet-sounding voice that betrayed both my emotions and current state. I was terrified, overwhelmed, stressed, and now hurt that, of all things, he’d brought up the feelings between us.

“That’s not fair, Vil. You don’t get to throw that out there when I’ve been ignoring my feelings until this is all handled because you always pushed aside my attempts to broach the subject in the past!”

I shook my head again, stepping back from him as he started towards me, reaching out with a distinctly concerned look in his eyes even as I feebly raised my hands.

But suddenly all I could think of was all those months that had led up to our second Halloween together, just before Epel had been turned.

I’d already been falling for him and nursing my feelings. And he’d known it, because he’d gently side-stepped all of my attempts to broach the matter with him, which had left us in the state we were currently in. With him an ever-present part of my life as we flirted and bantered but never crossed that line.

And I wasn’t stupid. I knew why he’d always withdrawn before we got too close. 

He was a vampire, and I was a human who attracted vampires. Our relationship wasn’t going to be normal, had all sorts of risks, and might never work out. Which was why he’d always kept me out of the world of the night while simultaneously protecting me from the clans and vampires that lurked near me.

“Y/n-”

I shook my head again, cutting off his strained voice without even saying anything before I finally met his gaze and saw nothing but regret there. And right then, cutting off the conversation and fleeing to hide away in my apartment until we both forgot everything about this conversation felt like the only right choice.

But that wasn’t a luxury I could afford. Not when Rook and Epel were no doubt right outside, and not when Crowley was on my butt to take care of the insane vampires.

Vil’s hand curled in on itself until it was a fist that he lowered to his side. His jaw tightening as we both realized that there was definitely no going back now. And waiting to deal with this mess of emotions was fast becoming less and less of an option for both of us.

Because, despite my resolution to keep putting this off until the insane vampire issue was handled, I’d finally pushed him too far, and now he’d said too much. 

Both of us had.

His voice was tight as he held my gaze, inhaling deeply before he spoke, “Fine. I’ll do it.”

I pressed my lips together, ignoring the way they trembled as I mirrored him. Inhaling deeply in a vain attempt to regain my control over the situation and ground myself away from my more emotional thoughts.

“When?” My voice croaked out past the poorly restrained frustration and emotions that remained firmly wadded in my too-tight throat, and he twitched. All but wincing before he lifted his chin.

But we’d both done this before. We’d both acted our past feelings and circumstances in the past and we could do it now.

“When are you planning on going to see this woman?” His voice was so carefully controlled, and I exhaled, looking down.

“As soon as possible,” My voice came out surprisingly soft, and I was more in control as I responded. And through my peripheral vision I could see Vil only nod. 

“Then I’ll come by tomorrow evening.” He paused, glancing out the window before continuing, “It’s too late now to try doing anything now.”

Anything… It was a loaded word, because he wasn’t just talking about biting me. He was talking about addressing the elephant in the room.

But he was right. There was no way we were getting anywhere with that right now. Not with how we both were right this instant.

I nodded, quietly agreeing with him and knowing exactly what he meant. Tomorrow night he would be visiting me. 

And tomorrow night would be the night I was bitten by a vampire.

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I left the Heartslabyul clan early that evening, immediately making my way over to the abandoned hotel that served as the headquarters for the Pomefiore clan. 

I’d kept Vil, Rook, and Epel in the know throughout the entire ordeal of evaluating all of the other clans and I certainly wasn’t about to stop now.

I slid through the doors easily, ignoring the vampires who noted my presence, turning my way, but knowing better than to bother me as I walked along, looking for any of the three men whom I was close to.

“Y/n! I heard you finished up with the evaluation of the Octavinelle clan!” It was Epel who saw me first, a smile lighting up his face as he trotted my way, causing me to smile fondly at the young man.

I tilted my head though, fixing to ask him how he’d already known, only for him to slow in his previously hurried steps that had carried him towards me. A frown marring his lovely face as he eyed the bag that hung from my shoulder before his wide blue eyes met my gaze once more, “Are you having to do Hunter work? You only just finished the other evaluation….”

I nodded as he trailed off, my smile turning slightly tired as Epel quickly caught on, “And I’ve already started the next one. Crowley visited me last night to personally collect my report on the Octavinelle clan, as well as tell me to start evaluating the Heartslabyul clan tonight.”

Epel’s frown only deepened at my words as he shook his head slightly, “Already? But you didn’t even get a break between this evaluation and the last one!”

I smiled slightly at the restrained frustration at his voice, because he was right. I shrugged though, also knowing that throwing a fit wouldn’t do any good, “I guess he just really wants to finish getting all of the evaluations done so that the insane vampire issue can be put to rest.”

Epel looked at me disbelievingly, and I couldn’t even blame him. I didn’t really buy that was the case either. But it didn’t change the fact that I was going to have to finish this evaluation, though.

Epel crossed his slender arms, apparently deciding to let my excuse slide, “Still, you haven’t gotten a break. Doesn’t he know you often get attacked by vampires while out and about doing his evaluations of these clans?? It ain’t-”

“Unfortunately, I doubt our esteemed head-vampire cares if it’s fair,” Vil’s dryly sarcastic tone easily slid into the conversation, startling me as I turned to look back in the direction his voice came from.

Rook and Vil both walked towards us at any easy pace. Rook with an idle smile and Vil with a slight frown that told me he’d heard the entire conversation up until now and was less than pleased with the situation. But then, it wasn’t like my chat with Epel had exactly been a secret.

“It don’t matter if he cares or not! It ain’t right!” I smiled back at Epel, half-amused by the way his accent was slipping out as he got more frustrated and completely understanding his stance, but also knowing that Vil was right. Crowley wasn’t one to care about what situation his orders put me in.

“I never said it was,” There was a certain sharpness to Vil’s tone, and I found myself resting a hand on his arm. Causing him to look at me as I smiled slightly at him.

It was almost amazing how quickly Epel and Vil could get going. Despite the fact they’d reached the point where the two of them got along surprisingly well, considering how much they’d butted heads to start with, they still could argue at the drop of the hat.

I looked between the two of them smiling, though, before I shook my head slightly, if perhaps a little tiredly, “It doesn’t matter if it’s right or not. It’s just the way it is.”

I watched as both of them frowned, Vil sighing slightly at my acceptance of the situation and Epel crossing his arms petulantly. Obviously not entirely wanting to drop the subject, but also staying silent.

“You said the head-vampire visited you last night?” Rook slipped in easily, his calm at odds with the other two as I twisted to look at him, nodding slightly.

“That would be the first time he has come by your home, isn’t it?” He frowned as I nodded again, confirming his words before smiling ruefully.

“It’s actually the first time I’ve seen him at all since that ball where I met him for the first time. He caught me entirely off-guard and behaved completely differently. In fact, he acted like we were friends or something,” I shook my head, still confused by the masked vampire’s behavior even now.

“Crowley’s an odd one. Everyone’s known that for a long time. But he’s also been the head-vampire of this district for a very long time, even though he doesn’t actually do anything. It’s one of the reasons everyone was surprised when he had you become his personal vampire hunter,” Vil explained calmly, and I nodded, recalling that night. 

It had been alarming at best, because it was one of the first times I’d ever seen Vil on-edge simply because of another vampire. It had been enough to make me wonder exactly what it was that was so special about Crowley in the first place.

He was apparently ancient, but he also didn’t seem to be very respected amongst the clans. And it wasn’t as if he were the only ancient vampire around. Malleus and Lilia were both ridiculously old from what I understood.

I shook my head slightly, as if to clear it, and forced myself to get back on track. I needed to worry about handling my evaluation of the Heartslabyul clan for now. I could worry about Crowley and all the weirdness he entailed later.

“Hey, if the Heartslabyul clan is the only clan that you haven’t evaluated, then doesn’t that mean they’re the source of the insanity issue?” Epel spoke up, almost as if he were attempting to help me stay focused, as he tilted his head thoughtfully.

All three men looked at me and I shook my head slightly, my motions eliciting varying reactions that ranged from frowns to slightly raised eyebrows.

“One would think… but right now, they just seem like all the other clans. Maybe a little weird with a potentially annoying clan leader, but not particularly what I’d expect from a group of people who caused a whole horde of insane vampires to appear.”

I paused, frowning slightly as I recalled what Azul had told me. It almost seemed like ages ago now, but it had just been earlier tonight.

But then, I had been rather busy tonight.

I glanced over at my friends, though, still frowning as I spoke aloud, “Azul did say that he’d heard that the Heartslabyul clan has connections to the person who's been causing all of this though. But ‘connections’ makes it sound like the person isn’t in the clan….”

I trailed off and Rook nodded slightly, “Oui… Perhaps someone in the clan knows who the root of this issue is?”

I met his gaze, frowning slightly as I realized exactly what he meant even as I questioned him, “And is keeping them safe?”

Rook nodded, and I watched as both Vil and Epel frowned. Epel spoke first though, shaking his head in an almost disgusted fashion, “But why would they do that? I thought the Heartslabyul clan had strict rules about everything.”

Vil nodded, humming slightly before he looked my way, his eyes flicking over my entire person as he spoke, “Yes, but if that is the case, then you’ll probably be very busy dealing with them.”

I pursed my lips slightly before nodding, agreeing with him even though I didn’t care for the thought of it. 

It wasn’t an odd thought, though. Every evaluation before this one had kept me busy, and if nothing else, I was going to be busy learning the 810 rules that I was expected to uphold while evaluating the Heartslabyul clan.

“Do you think they’re going to be hard to deal with?” Epel spoke up, and I glanced over his way, only to find him looking at me worriedly.

I smiled slightly, halfway considering his question before shaking my head, “No. The clan leader might be a little difficult, but I don’t think it’ll be too bad.”

After all, all of the other vampires I’d met so far might have been sort of odd in their own ways, but they didn’t strike me as bad people.

In truth, I really was only worried about one person. The apparently uncompromising leader that everyone else seemed to be worried about as well. Riddle.

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I sat with my hands folded in my lap, swallowing slightly as I tried to find the words while Rook, Epel, and Vil all stared at me with similarly surprised expressions.

I couldn’t blame them, though. I’d just told them everything I could about the situation and plan without including the details about how this woman I would be dealing with was apparently the same vampire who’d turned Riddle as well as someone he’d at least once viewed as his mother.

“So you’re going to get a vampire to bite you so that you can safely meet up with this woman, confirm that she is the one causing the insane vampire issue, and then handle her?” Epel clarified in a perfectly disbelieving tone, and I felt myself smile weakly at his blunt words.

But even I had to admit that the entire plan sounded reckless at best and shoddy at worst. Especially considering the fact that I’d been spending my time avoiding getting bitten by vampires for quite some time now.

This plan, such as it was, all but went against everything I’d been working for, except for my goal of getting the insane vampire issue handled.

“Is there no way you can observe this woman from a distance or sneak in?” Rook questioned me with a surprising amount of calm despite the way his expression and tone were both tinged with worry. And I knew precisely what his worry was. 

Rook was the one most likely to respect my decision simply because he’d dealt with the innately dangerous nature of being a vampire hunter himself. But I also knew he was no doubt concerned that I was jumping the gun.

And, in all fairness, both of the ideas he’d raised were good ones. I shook my head with a resigned sigh, though, “I’ve actually stopped by and asked Riddle about that already. He said that it would be impossible.”

I paused before meeting my friend's gaze directly as I shifted slightly in my chair. “He’s worried she would smell me if I were to sneak in, and he said there was no way to watch her from a distance… Apparently her house has little in the way of windows or ways to look inside. I got the feeling she’s been very wary of others, especially vampire hunters, for quite some time now.”

“But he thinks you waltzing in there after having been bitten won’t be an issue?” It was the first thing Vil had said since I’d explained the plan, and I could clearly hear the judgment in his tone.

And his judgment was perfectly valid. She probably wasn’t going to be very accepting of my presence, and me getting bitten by a vampire was most definitely risky.

I looked his way and lifted one shoulder, though. Doing my best to appear wholly unbothered by this plan even though he’d never buy that for even a millisecond. He knew me far too well for that. But I also knew that he would never agree to the plan, much less agree to being the one to bite me, if he knew how nervous I was.

“If necessary, I’ll tell her that I work for the head-vampire of the district and that I’m evaluating all of the vampires in the area. That should at least give me an excuse to be there,” I explained in a carefully nonchalant tone, but Vil’s eyes narrowed at me in a way that told me he wasn’t convinced. Not in the slightest.

And I wasn’t surprised. If anyone knew me well, it was Vil, and even I had some misgivings about this plan.

“That all makes good sense, but I don’t see why you have to be bitten to do that. Are you sure this isn’t just a ruse the Heartslabyul vampires are using to get some of your blood?” Vil’s tone was utterly condemning and had Epel looking between the two of us nervously as I felt myself frown.

“They wouldn’t do that.” I immediately shook my head, disagreeing with Vil’s assertion in a flat voice. But I could tell my words did little to calm him even as I continued. If anything, he seemed to be getting more frustrated.

“Riddle explained why I had to get bitten anyway. He said she’d attack if I wasn’t obviously marked or bitten, and I can’t find out if she’s the one causing all of this if she’s just attacking me. Apparently she hates humans or something,” I finished stubbornly as I watched Vil’s fingers tap annoyedly on his already crossed arms.

His brows were furrowed, and I could practically see the gears turning in his head as he worked to come up with some other issue or flaw in this plan.

And I couldn’t deny that there were many.

It would be dangerous and might not work at all for a variety of reasons, but it was also the only plan I had at the moment, and I couldn’t just keep dragging this entire thing out. 

Even if Riddle’s commentary had been overly harsh, it hadn’t missed its mark. The longer this issue of insane vampires remained, the more people were in danger. After all, the number of times I’d been attacked in the past few months alone far outpaced the experiences I’d had previously.

I inhaled slightly before I spoke again, looking at all three men in turn, “I know why you’re upset, and I get why you’re against this…. All of you. I don’t like it either, but this issue has to be resolved. The longer this keeps going and the more insane vampires there are running around, the more likely it is people will get hurt and get turned into vampires.”

I paused, noting how Epel’s gaze fell at my words, and I swallowed as Rook nodded solemnly while Vil’s gaze continued to rest weightily on me. “If this keeps up, then people are going to start suspecting things, looking where they shouldn’t be, and finding out about vampires. And then who knows what will happen?”

My voice wavered slightly, and I cut myself off short. Not bothering to voice the possibilities of what might or even probably would happen.

Mass frenzy, hysteria, and people beginning to institute methods against the vampires who endangered them. Even if some or most of the vampires were innocent. And I couldn’t accept that. Not when so many people could get hurt. Including these three and the myriad of other friends I’d made.

At my silence, Vil’s frown deepened, and Rook glanced over at him, a concerned frown of his own on his face, “Roi du Poison….”

He trailed off, seemingly not knowing what to say to the other man before he looked my way with a sorrowful but understanding expression, “You make a good point, Trickster. But-”

“It ain’t your fault!” Epel’s sudden explosion of words cut off whatever it was that Rook had been about to say and had me looking over at my friend, whose hands were curled into trembling fists as he stared at me.

His face was a mask of frustration, no doubt due to the fact he couldn’t do anything.

It was like we were back at that night when Epel had first been turned and none of us had known anything other than the fact that there was a vampire who was apparently after me and who was willing to target those close to me.

Except it somehow felt more complicated now. I was far deeper into the world of vampires now than I had been at that time. There was more at stake.

It wasn’t just me at risk, but others. Other humans and the vampires that I’d come to know so well.

Well enough that I wasn’t sure I would ever want to leave their world to return to mine, which was a thought I knew I should never have. Because it was perilous at best.

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. Right now, I needed to focus on the present, or I had no hope of convincing these three.

Especially Vil.

Epel shook his head, and I somehow felt even more lost just by looking at him as he staunchly met my gaze. Somehow managing to look determined and so hurt all at once. But I knew it frustrated him that he couldn’t do this for me.

And perhaps that was why his voice quivered with far too much emotion as he spoke, “You shouldn’t have to be the one to bear this burden, Y/n… Not when it’s not your fault! None of it! If anyone should be doing something, it should be that blasted birdbrain! HE’S the one in charge of this district, not you!!”

“Epel,” Rook’s voice was soft, but it was all that was needed to silence the younger man, who bit off whatever other words he had. His lips pursing together as he trembled, a subtle reminder that he was just as new to the world of the night as I was. But unlike me, he hadn’t had any choice and could never leave.

Because even if Crowley had forced me into the position of vampire hunter, he wasn’t the real reason I was here. 

The real reason I was here was quite simple.

Wordlessly I looked towards Vil, knowing that even now I didn't regret my decision to befriend him and stay by his side, but wondering if he shared the same sentiment.

He met my gaze, his expression one that I could tell was tightly controlled as he swallowed, lifting his chin slightly as he spoke. And his eyes held mine in a way that told me he would see the very instant I hesitated or wavered. “So you’re determined to go through with this plan?”

Epel’s eyes widened with surprise at Vil’s cold words, but Rook simply looked towards Vil silently. A small but sad smile on his face that told me he’d been expecting this turn of events.

But Rook, Vil, And I all knew that if Epel’s reaction to all this hadn’t broken my decision to do this, then very little would. 

But even with that simple fact, I could tell Vil didn’t like this. Not one bit.

The only question was why he wasn’t arguing with me more. I’d expected to have to fight tooth and nail over this.

I nodded quietly, though, and Vil sighed. Not looking surprised but certainly less than pleased, “Then who are you planning on asking to bite you? Not just any vampire will do.”

His tone turned warning, and I knew we’d reached the part of the decision he would not budge on. He might accept my choice to take drastic measures, but he would step in if the plan took a turn he didn’t like here.

Because, knowing Vil, he wasn’t about to accept risk to my person. Even if it was a risk that was brought on by my own choice.

He would respect my decisions, but only to a point. It was something I’d always known.

The very instant I crossed the line into the territory of ‘too far,’ then Vil would step in. Because he knew that when the pressure got to be too much, I couldn’t necessarily make choices in an exactly reasonable manner.

At some point, he and I had become a gauge for one another, and in all honesty, it was a comforting thought. Because I knew Vil wouldn’t let me push myself too far, just like I wouldn’t let him do anything he’d regret so long as I could help it.

But even then, I had no idea of how he would respond to what I was about to ask of him. Not when it would require him to do the very thing he’d been protecting me from ever since I’d met him.

I swallowed thickly, holding his amethyst gaze and half-wishing that Rook and Epel weren’t actually here for this part of the conversation simply because of how purely awkward this was going to be. But it wasn’t as if I could just send them away either. They were just as worried as he was.

“I was thinking…” I paused slightly, shifting nervously and doing my best to ignore the way both Rook and Epel leaned forward. Epel with an expression of wary curiosity and Rook with an uncomfortable degree of knowing in his eyes.

“You… If you’re willing to do it,” I finished. My answer falling from my mouth in an oddly merciless fashion. Though I wasn’t sure who needed the mercy more. Me or him.

Vil’s eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly, like he was genuinely surprised and, dare I say it from the brightness of his eyes, pleased by my choice, and I felt myself blink. Briefly taken aback as I matched his stare. My hands still linked together themselves nervously in my lap.

Off to the side, Epel’s eyes widened, and he looked over at Vil in surprise. Rook, for his part, smiled slightly before he mirrored the younger man and also looked towards Vil, who continued to sit motionlessly, his surprised gaze holding mine.

And then he shook his head, “No.”

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By the time I awoke, it was nightfall, and I found myself sighing slightly as I plucked my necklace off of the nightstand and clasped it back around my neck. Letting it rest comfortably against my throat just where it always did.

With it already being dark out, that didn’t leave me much time for dallying since I had two clans to go see, and the first would quite possibly be unwilling to let me go on to the next. 

I adored Vil, Rook, and Epel, but their generally protective nature could be downright problematic sometimes, even if I did understand their concerns.

At least it wasn’t a long trip to the Pomefiore clan headquarters, and before long I was slipping right through the doors of the abandoned, once grandiose hotel.

 It was almost amusing to think of how both the Pomefiore and Scarabia clans were housed within hotels, though the state of said hotels were widely different.

While Pomefiore’s exuded aged elegance and had been abandoned many years ago, Scarabia’s was far more modern and called the Middle East to mind with its brilliant, Indian-style decor.

I glanced around, frowning slightly as I noted the number of unfamiliar faces milling around. Vil had said they’d had people wanting to join the clan, but it was still surprising to see quite so many. 

Especially considering the hostile way that they looked at me after noticing my presence.

One was suaver than the rest, though. Walking over to where I was with a smile that made me feel like he had no intentions of hiding his vampiric nature considering it clearly flashed his fangs.

He loomed over me, his eyes glinting in a way that I’d seen far too many times on other vampires’ faces as he spoke in a carefully smooth tone, “Ah… have you gotten lost, dear? Tell me what you’re looking for. I’m sure I can-”

“Y/n?” The man was cut off at Epel’s call, and I turned to see the lavender haired young man looking at me. His gaze briefly shifted over towards the other man with a flicker of annoyance before he looked back my way with careful innocence on his face.

He trotted over, and I smiled at him as he grabbed me by the hand, “Talk about a surprise. We weren’t expecting to see you tonight. You looking for Vil?”

The other man faltered at both Epel’s warm greeting and the Vil name drop, but I ignored him. Instead, I opted to focus on my friend and answer his question as I shook my head, “No, I’m actually looking for Rook, but how have you been?”

Epel bobbed his head, “Good! Busy, but good! Rook’s this way though.” He tugged me off and away from the other vampires at a hurried trot that slowed once we were at a distance from them.

He frowned pointedly at me as soon as we were a safe distance from the other vampires, his words a harsh whisper, “You should’ve warned us you were coming! There was no telling what the guy might’ve done to you. Especially with the way he was looking at ya’ like you were a freshly baked pie or something.” The young man gave an exaggerated shudder that had me grinning at him.

“My bad. I’ll be sure to warn you next time,” I smiled at him as Epel shook his head with a grin of his own before opening a door next to us.

“Come on, you. They’re in here,” So saying he walked into the room, leaving me no time to tease him about his brand-new cape that looked an awful lot like the one Vil had.

I followed him into the room though, still smiling and immediately being greeted by Rook’s joyful, “Trickster!”

I barely had time to brace myself before I was being embraced by the characteristically affectionate man. I hugged him in return though, chuckling slightly at his actions even though I was just as thrilled to see him.

“Tater tot, what are you doing here?” Rook released me and shifted so that I could look at Vil, who was sitting off to the side. His head tilted, and I restrained a sigh. 

I didn’t really want to broach the topic of vampiric hypnosis even though I should. I far preferred the idea of catching up with all three of the young men who were here with me. 

But want versus need was a very different thing, and I knew which one I needed to prioritize as I glanced over at Rook, suddenly feeling oddly tired, “I actually needed to talk to you about something.”

Rook’s eyes were bright as he nodded. Pulling off his hat and playfully sweeping into a bow, “Oh, I am at your service! What do you need, Trickster?”

He straightened and wrapped his arm around me, guiding me over to a chair across from Vil and sitting me down even as I was thinking about how best to broach the subject. I’d prefer to avoid worrying them too much, but I had no doubts that as soon as I started talking about vampires and hypnosis, they’d be suspicious.

I sighed slightly before meeting Rook’s distinctly excited stare, bracing myself for the inevitable, and I started, “So, this is a common thing in vampire movies, but I know those are hardly the best source of information.”

Vil nodded at my words, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he no doubt recalled the discussion he and I’d had about that very matter one night during a movie watching marathon.

Rook’s gaze had shifted to something more steady as he patiently listened to me, and I delivered my question as calmly as possible, “Is it true that vampires can hypnotize people? And, if so, how can you tell when you’re being hypnotized and how can you avoid it?”

My words were like a signal, and all three of them froze even if they hadn’t been in motion beforehand. 

Epel stared at me from where he’d stopped mid-crossing the room; Rook’s expression was the only thing that had shifted on him, but there was evident worry there, and Vil… Vil had tensed, his eyes widening at first before they narrowed in suspicion, and I knew exactly what was coming next.

“Tater tot, have you been hypnotized by someone?” Vil’s tone was low and careful. The tone he always used for matters like this.

I sighed softly as I lowered my gaze and looked away from Vil, “I don’t know… I’m just a little worried, that’s all.”

I heard Rook shift, and he knelt in front of me. His gloved hands reaching out and taking my hands in his as he gazed up into my eyes, “Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell us everything, Trickster.” 

I frowned at his soft words and shook my head slightly. It would be nice to just sit and tell them about my problems, but I didn’t have time for that. “Rook, I have to get back so I can work on evaluating the Scarabia clan.”

“So it’s someone from the Scarabia clan?” It was almost surprising that it was Epel rather than Vil who spoke in that condemning tone, but I nodded almost as if I were surrendering.

One of Rook’s thumbs brushed comfortingly over my hand as he nodded, “I understand, Trickster. You are busy. But it can be hard to know if hypnosis has occurred or not, so please….”

He trailed off, and I could practically feel myself giving way at his gentle pressing. 

At least I’d taken the time to inform the Scarabia clan that I had something to handle at another clan so that they wouldn’t be wary about my disappearance or lateness.

“It’s happened twice now,” As soon as I started speaking, Rook nodded, smiling slightly as he realized I’d surrendered to his request.

“I make eye contact with the guy, and suddenly, instead of saying what I plan to, I'm saying the exact opposite thing and end up doing something I don’t want to do. First it was staying for a feast, and then it was staying there until the sun came up.”

I ignored the deep frown growing on Epel’s face as I continued to speak, though I did note the twitch to Vil’s expression at my words.

“Each time it happens, I feel myself relaxing and getting weirdly sleepy, almost-”

“-Almost like he’s lulling you into a sense of security and comfort,” Vil finished for me in a distinctly annoyed sounding voice, and I nodded.

The fact Vil had already known how my sentence would finish answered my question before Rook could even speak. I was indeed getting hypnotized by Jamil.

“It is true that vampires can hypnotize others, and it does sound like that may have happened to you… but I’m afraid there is little way to avoid it.” I frowned at Rook’s solemn words, not surprised but somehow still disappointed.

It made sense that there were few ways to avoid such a thing, though if my suspicions were correct, it was triggered by eye contact.

“You will have to be very careful, Trickster. You cannot let this individual keep doing this as it could result in greater trouble,” I nodded at Rook’s words, noting exactly how concerned he looked as he spoke.

 I didn’t entirely understand what Rook meant about ‘greater trouble’ nor did I want to go down that rabbit hole, but I certainly agreed that I would have to be careful about and around Jamil.

“Could we set up something where every night one of us goes by and checks on Y/n? That way, if this guy does do something, we can stop him.” Epel leaned forward as he piped in with his idea, and I immediately shook my head.

“No, if you guys start coming by the Scarabia clan every night, they’ll get suspicious, and then who knows how much longer it will take me to finish up there. I’d rather just get done investigating them and avoid them after that,” Epel frowned at my words, but nodded slightly. Evidently enough, understanding what I was saying even if he didn’t like it.

Vil sat forward though, his gaze resting steadily on me, “How about one of us visit you first thing every night before you normally leave just to check in and make sure you made it home alright?”

I was briefly silent before nodding slightly, “As long as it doesn’t interfere with anything you three have to do otherwise.”

Rook smiled merrily, shaking his head slightly, “If such a matter comes up, we can ask the Savanaclaw clan for assistance. You have grown close to them after all, oui?”

I felt a smile slip onto my face as I nodded slightly, “Just don’t bother them too much. I can’t see Leona taking kindly to that.”

Vil snorted slightly at my words, nodding his agreement even as I stood, smiling at all three young men, “I’ve got to go now. They’ll be expecting me at the Scarabia clan.”

Epel frowned, crossing his arms but nodding nonetheless, “Be careful, Y/n. They don’t sound trustworthy.”

I sighed but nodded, not bothering to argue that not all of them were using hypnosis for unclear reasons. Just one of them.

Vil stood as well, nodding towards the other two before walking with me out of the room. He glanced down at me slightly as we entered the hallway, but I stayed silent. Waiting patiently for whatever it is he was about to say.

But he only sighed, shaking his head slightly before looking at me once more, “I’ve been having to ask this a lot lately, but… Are you alright?”

I nodded quietly, adjusting the strap of my bag before finally offering him a smile, “I’ll be okay, Vil. I know for sure what’s happening now, so I’ll be prepared.”

He nodded, looking anything but pleased but seemingly resigning himself to this entire situation before he spoke again, his hand lightly brushing mine, “Just know that if you need any help, I’m here, and so are the others. You don’t have to deal with all of this alone, and in no way would it be interfering with anything or bothering us.”

He paused, holding my gaze carefully as his voice softened. Almost as if his words were a secret that he might not have even wanted me to hear, “Your safety is always of the utmost importance.”

I felt my smile soften and become more genuine at his words, and I nodded again, bumping him lightly with my shoulder, “I know. If need be, I can always hide your massive cape.”

He let out a slight laugh at my teasing, shaking his head at my antics before he nodded with both fondness and amusement creeping into his gaze as he looked at me, “Yes, my cape will always be open for you if you need it.”

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I stretched slightly as I sat up from my bed, noting that all that remained of the day was the afterlight that still glowed in the sky. A beginning to my evening.

A part of me wondered who was going to visit me tonight after nightfall before I took off to the Scarabia clan. 

After they left, I would be setting about handling the hypnosis issue. But I also suspected that one of Crowley’s men would be coming by soon to see if I’d found anything.

He hadn’t been patient about me investigating the Savanaclaw clan, so I didn’t see why the Scarabia Clan would be any different.

I ate in silence, mulling over my thoughts as the sky gradually darkened, and I’d only just finished when I heard the quiet tapping that came from my window. The only real indication of my visitor’s presence.

I pulled back the curtains curiously, my eyes immediately finding large blue ones, and I felt myself smile.

I opened the window and stepped back, letting Epel slip into the room, glancing around as he did so, “How’s my Ma’?” 

I’d wondered when he’d next question me about his family. He’d been keeping tabs on them through me ever since he’d been changed.

“She’s doing fine, and so is everyone else. They’re still adjusting and grieving, but….” I lifted one shoulder as I trailed off, unsure of what else to say, but Epel only nodded. His expression full of solemn understanding. 

Epel had been worried about them this entire time, and I knew perfectly well that he felt guilty. 

In no way was becoming a vampire his fault, but he still blamed himself for the pain and sorrow it had put his family through. After all, so far as they knew, he was still missing and presumed dead.

Like him, I also felt beyond guilty towards the Felmier family. They’d never been anything but good to me, and it was my fault that Epel had been targeted. 

If either of us was at fault for their sorrow, it was me more so than him.

Epel’s voice had my attention shifting back towards him though as he spoke, “What about you? Did that creep at Scarabia do anything?” His demeanor swiftly changed as he spoke. Going from somber concern to pointed annoyance in record time.

And I had no doubts that, at least for quite some time, Epel would likely hold a slight grudge against the Scarabia clan on my behalf. 

In some ways I supposed it was touching, but in a great many other ways it made me shake my head with a fond sigh. Because the entire clan was not at fault for the actions of one man.

“I’m fine, and no. He hasn’t tried anything. In fact, he gave me quite a bit of information yesterday.” I smiled reassuringly at the young man, but my words seemed to do little to soothe his peevishness.

“I still don’t like it. You need to get done there and wash your hands of them for good.” Epel shook his head with a deep frown marring his usually delicately beautiful face as he crossed his arms.

I found myself reaching out and letting my hand rest on his shoulder as I smiled at him slightly, “I will Epel. I’ll finish up soon and that’ll be that.”

He was practically pouting at me as he responded, “And wash your hands of them? I know you, Y/n, but I’m serious. You don’t need to go making friends with them!”

I rolled my eyes slightly as I turned, latching the necklace around my neck before I tucked it under my shirt’s collar and grabbing my bag, “You make it sound like I make friends with every questionable person I meet.”

“Y/n, you’re friends with Rook, and you knew Vil was a vampire when you befriended him,” He practically huffed out his words, and I turned to look back at him with raised eyebrows.

“I’m friends with you too, you know,” He frowned at my words as I shouldered my bag and continued. Unperturbed by the expression on his face. 

“Rook has been a good friend to both of us, and Vil is just fine. Besides, if I can’t avoid vampires, I might as well make friends with some of them. I can’t exactly go living my life afraid of everyone who surrounds me, now can I?”

Epel shook his head, following as I walked around the room, making sure I had everything I needed as I listened to him. And his tone was perfectly irritated as he spoke, “I’m not saying you have to avoid ALL vampires, but you should be more careful. Crowley already targeted you, and now some creep has tried hypnotizing you. Jack seemed like a fine guy, so I’m sure the Savanaclaw clan is okay, but I’m not sure about this new group.”

I shrugged slightly, “Every group will have some bad apples, Epel.”

I glanced over at him, sighing slightly as I noted the frown that remained on his face. I understood his concerns. I understood them perfectly. After all, I held some of them myself.

But I also knew that the situation at the Scarabia clan seemed to be growing more and more complicated with each tidbit I learned. And even if Jamil wasn’t exactly trustworthy, it seemed perfectly ridiculous to be afraid of Kalim.

I turned though, giving Epel my full attention as I faced him, “I’m being careful, Epel. I promise you I am. But I also can’t live my life in fear of everyone. And don’t worry.” I felt a smile slip onto my face as I paused, tilting my head before I continued, “I’m being wary of Ja—the guy who hypnotized me.”

Epel’s eyes narrowed as soon as I slipped up and nearly said Jamil’s name, and he leaned closer, “What’s his name, Y/n? You were about to say it, and you stopped yourself.”

I shook my head, stepping back carefully as a frown slid on my face. I knew exactly what would happen if I told him Jamil’s name. “No, Epel. I’m not telling you that.”

Epel’s eyes widened as he pasted on an innocent expression that I’d seen him use to get out of trouble in the past as his hands found one of mine. Gripping it like he was making an earnest promise, “I won’t tell Rook or Vil, I promise! Really. You know you can trust me, Y/n.”

I shook my head firmly, “No, Epel. I’m not going to tell you, and it’s not because I’m afraid you’re going to tell Vil or Rook.”

The frown that appeared on his face was immediate and he dropped my hand, but he knew exactly why I wasn’t going to tell him.

If I told him Jamil’s name, he’d no doubt confront Jamil himself, which could lead to who knows what all trouble. In the end, it would be for the best if he didn’t know who Jamil was. 

Epel crossed his arms though, frustration shining in his eyes as he frowned at me, “I can protect ya’, ya’ know? I might not have been a vampire for as long as Vil or have been a hunter like Rook, but I’m still strong.”

I sighed, a smile slipping back onto my face as I nodded. 

Of course he thought it was that I didn’t think he was strong enough to be able to protect me. 

In reality, I had no doubts about his strength. He was just as powerful as any other vampire, and I knew he would do anything for me. Even stir up trouble that probably didn’t need stirring.

“I know you can Epel. I’m not worried about that,” I stepped closer to him, taking his hand and squeezing it affectionately. “I just want to get this resolved as quickly and peacefully as possible. I don’t want to cause anyone trouble.”

The frown stayed on his face, but it turned somewhat more sulky in nature as he responded petulantly, “They’re all causing you trouble. I’d just be returning the favor.”

I laughed aloud at his words before shaking my head, “Thank you, really. But it’s fine, Epel.” My gaze held his as I continued to smile even as I let go of his hand, “I’ve got everything handled. But if I do need help, I’ll ask for it.”

I held up my hand, curling all of my fingers save for my pinkie that I held up with a smile that had Epel shaking his head even as he grinned back at me and linked his pinkie with mine.

“There, pinkie swear,” I couldn’t keep the humor out of my voice as we shook hands with our pinkie’s linked.

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My hand rested lightly on Vil’s shoulder as the strings of the instrument signaled the beginning of a dance. A slower one, lilting as it filled the air with the almost nostalgic sounding music.

 My entire body was stiff as he began to lead me through the steps of the dance, and I was idly aware of how cold my hand was in his…. Though it was notably warmer than his. The perks of being alive, I suppose.

All around, other undead flocked to the floor. Jewelry glinted in the light given off by the chandelier that hung high above us.

 I could feel their eyes on me, causing me to tense even further as Vil twirled me  carefully across the floor. Moving in sync with the steady rhythm of the song that played. I spun back in, my hand finding its way back to his shoulder as if by habit, just as he spoke in an easy tone, “Relax.”

I almost snorted at Vil’s calm tone, choosing not to think too hard about how easy it was for him to read the emotions that flickered through me, “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one being stared at like you're a rotisserie chicken in front of some starving wolves.” 

My hissed whisper was met with a raised eyebrow from my partner, “You knew this wouldn’t be easy, Y/n. And they aren’t staring at you like you’re a rotisserie chicken; they’re looking at you like you're dressed well and they’re curious.”

Despite his tone, his grip was gentle, and I knew his seemingly judgmental words served, in many ways, as a distraction from the situation. Because that was, more than anything, what I needed.

 I met his gaze, thankful that I was, at the very least, here with him, Rook, and Epel. And Vil was right; I’d known that these stares were precisely what awaited me in a ballroom filled with vampires, but…. 

I sighed, before whispering back to him, “You and I both know I came for two reasons. To meet the clans and stay with Epel. I couldn’t leave him to have to deal with this on his own. You know as well as I do that they would have eaten him alive.” 

And it was true. According to both Rook and Vil, vampires lived and breathed high society, which was something Epel abhorred. There was a high chance of him saying or doing something that would lead to him quickly becoming an outcast when he’d only just entered this world of undead glamor.

Vil looked almost insulted by my words, frowning at me slightly, “I wouldn’t have let him come to any harm.”

My eyes held his as I focused on him, using him to keep myself from paying too close attention to the stares I was receiving as one of only two living people in the room and the brand-new Hunter, to boot, “You can’t be everywhere, Vil, and neither can Rook.”

Just over Vil’s shoulder, I could see the very boy we spoke about. Epel, new the world of vampires and still unsure of the incredible etiquette it took not to accidentally insult one of them. He watched, doing his best not to look impressed or curious as I spun across the floor in Vil’s arms.

“Yes, but he has to learn Y/n. You can’t protect him forever. This is, unfortunately, his world now.” My gaze shifted back to Vil, meeting his eyes as I listened to his solemn words that echoed with the unforgiving truth.

“I know, but I can’t abandon him just yet. Not when so many of them might hurt him.” Vil listened to me silently, a carefully crafted mask on his face as I spoke in a far softer voice than I’d intended.

The more he listened, the more he frowned though, “Be that as it may, you aren’t safe here either, and you are also new to this world.”

I smiled wryly. He wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean I was just going to abandon Epel either, “I know, but I was dealing with vampires way before he even knew they existed. And I don’t think they’ll be willing to attack the new vampire hunter when I’ve only just started the job. Especially since, according to you and Rook, it's an important position that absolutely nobody wants.”

Vil’s gaze now shifted, and I watched him glance around the room, no doubt taking stock of who all was present, “Perhaps not many of them, but there are some….” 

I frowned as he trailed off, searching his face for answers before I questioned him, “What is it?”

Vil’s eyes darted back to my face and he smiled as if nothing at all were amiss, “Nothing, just make sure you and Epel stay close to either me or Rook tonight. I don’t trust either one of you two to not do something stupid.”

It was times like these that his ability to fake anything was annoying. He’d seen something or thought of someone. That I was positive of. But what, or who, was it? And how much danger were I and Epel in?

Unfortunately, some part of me whispered that it was most likely a who rather than a what. Though the idea of Vil worrying about someone was beyond concerning since, so far as I knew, he’d never worried about any other vampires.

I swallowed thickly, but nodded, “Sure, it wasn’t like I was planning on leaving you anyway. I don’t exactly have a death wish, and I don’t particularly plan on doing anything stupid.”

My eyes trailed back to where Rook and Epel stood. Rook swayed contentedly to the music, but Epel was eyeing me with a worried gaze. But then he knew that vampires were oddly attracted to me for unknown reasons. He’d fessed up one day and told me that there was something about me that was…. Appealing, as he had put it, though the way his eyes had lingered for just a few moments too long on my neck spoke more of hunger.

It was the most anyone had ever really said to me about the matter. Though there had been times when vampires who found me had implied that I smelled tasty.

 I had a pretty good idea that it wasn’t that it wasn’t my physical appearance that drew vampires to me, since Vil had always kept his lips tightly sealed on whatever it was that vampires liked about me. 

Similarly, Rook had always kept his silence, and he’d most certainly never been one to shy away from giving out compliments. At this point, I’d long suspected that I came across something akin to a particularly good meal. 

I swallowed, forcing myself to focus more on this currently stressful moment rather than the varying stressful possibilities of what, exactly, might be ahead or what it was that made vampires eye me like a particularly tasty-looking sandwich.

“So who is it that we’re avoiding exactly?” I looked back up at Vil, and his eyebrows rose. I frowned slightly at him as he sighed, surrendering to the fact that I knew there was someone about that had him concerned.

“Just an older vampire. He’s more experienced and, thus, more dangerous. You’ll be fine, though. He probably won’t even turn up here,” He smiled slightly as he finished. A hint of humor had slipped into his tone that had me shaking my head, but smiling despite myself.

“Is he as old as you?” One of Vil’s eyebrows lifted at my seemingly innocent question, and I immediately knew that he was on to me.

“Perhaps,” Vil’s response was careful, just like he always was when it came to his age. He refused, for unknown reasons, to tell me exactly how old he was and had even sworn Rook to secrecy.

But then Rook had known him far longer than I had. Once as the vampire hunter and now as a vampire himself.

A thought hit me, and I glanced past Vil and back towards Rook with a slight frown as I softly questioned my partner, “Is this vampire the one that turned Rook into a vampire?”

Vil frowned but shook his head, “I don’t know…..” He trailed off, and his movements slowed to a stop as others began to also stop in their motions around us. 

I watched in surprise and mounting worry as Vil’s eyes widened and a glimmer of something I’d never seen there flashed through their amethyst depths. Dread.

I spun, ignoring the way Vil’s hand had tightened on mine the very moment I moved, as I looked towards the top of the staircase to see a tall man standing there. 

His face was covered by a black mask, styled to look like a bird. He had a key-shaped walking stick, and his gloved fingers were tipped with golden claws that glimmered in the light cast by the chandelier that hung high overhead.

I swallowed, feeling my throat bob with the motion as I stared up at those glowing gold eyes that stared directly back at me as a satisfied smile rested on the only visible part of his pale face.

Like a condemning echo, I recalled Epel’s description of the man who turned him: “...he wore a mask. His eyes were bright though, almost glowing in the dark. Like little lightbulbs.”

At the time, I’d thought the description was strange, but now that I was looking up at him it made complete and utter sense. Those strange eyes probably would glow in the dark. Even with those thoughts, though, I felt my blood run cold at the realization that this was him. 

This was the man who had turned my friends into vampires, as well as the man who’d pushed me into the position I was now in, though I couldn't deny that it had been my choice to become a vampire hunter.

At odds with my fear that rooted me to the place where I stood, the man was totally relaxed. Spreading his arms wide as the music halted, and he smiled down at us. His glowing eyes locked onto my person even as Vil stayed by my side. Shifting ever so slightly in front of me and not abandoning me for even a second as we faced this man that had even elicited a reaction from Vil.

“I told your friends to pass on my greetings, but allow me to say it now that I have finally met you in person. Welcome to this, our world of the night. And congratulations on becoming our new Hunter, Y/n.”

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The evening had come at long last, and after meticulous planning and training in the art of dancing for both me and Epel, I could only hope I was ready. Because tonight was the night of the vampire ball.

The ball at which I would be introduced to the clans as the new vampire hunter. 

My grasp on Vil’s elbow was tight as we approached the massive doors that I eyed nervously. Wondering exactly what a vampire ball would end up looking like. At the very least, it required some pretty fancy clothes if the outfit Vil had given me to wear was anything to go by.

And, as it turned out, the local kids actually did have a good reason for avoiding the ancient building we approached. It was apparently a gathering place for vampires…..

“Relax,” I glanced over as soon as Vil spoke, his amethyst eyes flickering my way as he gave me hushed directions. His arm lowering so that my hand slid down until it was captured by him and squeezed gently, “Remember, you cannot show them you’re afraid. Not now that you are the Hunter.”

I nodded, swallowing thickly, before looking back towards the doors that were getting steadily closer, “Easier said than done.”

I could feel Vil’s eyes still on me, but when he spoke, it wasn’t to discourage me or offer me a way out this time. Instead, there was a warmth to his tone that had my eyes widening as he spoke, “You’ll do fine, Tater-tot. Just act like you always do.”

I looked back at him to see him smiling slightly at me, and I found myself grinning in return, “Right. It’s not like I can miss the grand unveiling of your clan after all.” 

He shook his head with the slightest of smiles at my teasing but remained silent. Supporting me all the while and staying by my side as we drew closer to the doors as he shifted so that my hand was once more resting in the crook of his elbow and I looked back at the looming door. A frown slipping its way back onto my face at the mere sight of them.

“Hey, it’ll be okay, Y/n. We’ll get through it together," I glanced back, making eye contact with Epel, who looked just as nervous as I felt. But then this was his first vampire soiree as well as Rook’s first one as a vampire. Though Rook hardly looked nervous… In fact, he looked weirdly excited.

I flashed Epel a smile, repeating his “Together” back at him softly and causing the young man to smile before I turned my eyes back to the doors in front of me, inhaling deeply as I calmed myself.

This was it; there was no more turning back. As soon as I went through those doors, I would be well and truly entering the world of vampires, and I might not ever be able to leave again.

But if that was what it took…. Then so be it.

The doors swung open at an astonishing speed, and a Black man with bright pink eyes flashed a fanged grin our way before loudly announcing our entrance, “Mr. Schoenheit and his Pomefiore clan!”

All heads turned immediately, and I walked carefully at Vil’s side as I stared into a sea of unimaginably attractive people. All of whom regarded me with a distinct curiosity that had me fighting to not go tense under the weight of their cumulative gazes.

“And a special guest, our new Hunter! Y/n L/n!” All four of us turned to look at the announcer, who now stood behind us. 

His sparkling eyes met mine, and he flashed a little wink at me, startling me further as he spoke quietly enough that I doubted anyone but my little group could hear him, “Good luck, Little Imp.”

I nodded slowly before looking over at Vil, only to find he was already gazing at me with a tight expression. I swallowed, finding my mouth was suddenly dry, “Vil, how did he…?”

“I don’t know,” He frowned and looked back out across the crowd, who were now abuzz with my name on everyone’s lips as they cast numerous glances our way, “But we will find out.”

I squared my shoulders, forcing myself not to shrink behind Vil as he slowly began to guide me down the staircase that flared around us like a sort of marble frame.

“Roi du Poison, this changes things….” Rook’s voice was a hushed whisper as he and Epel followed the two of us. Each with matching expressions of grim determination.

“I know, but we will continue as planned. That is all we can do.” Rook nodded solemnly at Vil’s response and cast his gaze across the crowd, which was slowly making room for us to enter once we finished our descent.

“So, who's who?” Vil glanced my way at my hushed question, and his lips quirked up in a slight smile before he answered.

“The group in yellow is the Savanaclaw clan. We’ll want to make a good impression on them… They may be our only real chance at allies.” I eyed the yellow group, noting exactly how terrifying they all looked.

“They look….” I trailed off as the large red-headed man at the front yawned, revealing a set of canines that looked far larger than any fangs I’d seen before, “Fun….”

As I spoke, I recalled the man who’d been there the night everything had truly started. When I’d killed that vampire. 

I could only imagine that he was part of that group. He seemed to have had some form of wereism with his catlike ears and tail.

“They are not so bad, Trickster. Sometimes the worst individuals hide behind a carefully crafted smile,” As he spoke, Rook directed my and Epel’s attention to a trio of men, two of whom were practically identical, off to the side. Despite their mafia-esque appearance, all three of them smiled at us, with the pale-haired one in the center inclining his head.

“The Octavinelle clan,” The Frenchman continued, “Are perhaps the most concerning group here.”

I frowned slightly as I continued to glance around before a flash of white caught my eye and had me hurriedly looking to the left at a group who were dressed almost totally in black.

I recognized that face…..

“Who’s that?” I inclined my head towards the white haired young man that I’d met all those many nights ago on Halloween.

“That?” Vil glanced at me with an odd expression before looking back over at the young man, “That’s Silver. He’s part of the Diasomnia clan, but he’s human…. Like you.” 

I looked over to see Vil already looking down at me with a slight smile, “Lilia, one of the clan’s seniors, took him in. I don’t know why, but since that is the case, you may find allies there.”

It was a thought that gave me some hope. That there were clans out there with humans who, at least judging from the way he was mingling with the others in those same black outfits, seemed comfortable.

“What’s that big group over there? In the black and white checkers with the red,” Epel piped up from behind us, directing our attention to what was indeed one of the larger groups present.

“The Heartslabyul clan. They are very strict about their rules, but they will not harm humans. So they are safe to associate with,” Rook nodded pointedly towards me before continuing to look around.

My mind was already swirling at this point with all of the clan names I’d really only heard once before now as Vil gestured towards a duo, “That’s the Scarabia clan… Or at least two members of it. Kalim is harmless, but Jamil…. Well, he’s certainly more crafty.”

Vil frowned as he spoke, shaking his head slightly. But my attention got redirected once more as Epel nudged me and indicated a new duo with a head jerk, “Found the flame-haired ones Rook mentioned….. What were their names?”

His voice was hushed as I looked over and indeed saw two individuals, or rather one individual and a floating robot that was about the size of a young boy. And, true to what we’d been told, both had a swathe of blue flames that seemed to serve as hair.

 “Ignihyde… I think,” I muttered back to my friend, earning myself a head nod as we both did our best to not stare. 

“It seems like everyone is present this evening… We merely need to wait until someone approaches us,” Vil nodded in agreement with Rook's words even as he continued to scan the room.

“I don’t see anyone who matches the description you or Epel gave, though,” I glanced over to see Vil frowning as he spoke, and I squeezed his arm slightly, earning myself a glance that was paired with raised eyebrows.

“They might not be here yet… And he might not come at all if he’s in hiding,” My voice was hushed, but Vil heard me nonetheless. Nodding even despite the distaste on his face.

“So what do we do while we wait for someone to ‘approach us’?” I smiled slightly at Epel’s ability to be slightly huffy over being at such a fancy ball despite the tense situation. 

He was no doubt already itching to get his fancy and notably lacy clothes off. He’d already complained about them the entire week leading up to this evening anyway.

Rook laughed good-naturedly as he took on his new role of attempting to soothe the younger boy, even as Vil looked like he was using all of his willpower to not roll his eyes.

We all stopped, though, as stringed music began to slowly lilt through the air despite the lack of instruments or any way to broadcast music. 

I frowned, glancing around, only to find that there was no clear source of the sound. It was almost like magic was being used to cause the gentle, soothing sounds. And though, so far as I knew, vampires couldn’t use magic, I supposed anything was possible.

I felt a light tapping on my shoulder and turned, only to see Vil smiling at me as he held out one gloved hand, “We could always dance while we waited?”

I heard a quiet ‘Ugh’ from Epel but ignored him as I glanced around the numerous undead persons who now flocked towards the dance floor.

“Are you sure?” Even as I continued to look around nervously, I let my hand slip into Vil’s. Fully trusting him, even if I wasn’t sure what exactly to do in this moment. 

It wasn’t like I was used to balls after all. Much less balls filled with undead people whose kind were known to seek me out for thus-far unexplained reasons and who had been staring at me ever since our grand entrance.

But Rook and Vil had taught both me and Epel to dance just in case this did occur. Unfortunately, now that it was actually happening, I found that I was feeling a lot less confident than I had at our last set of lessons.

Epel stared at me in disbelief as Rook clasped his hands together joyfully, urging me and Vil to go ahead even though Vil had already started to lead me away.

“But of course, Tater tot. It is only natural that we should dance at such a venue. If we didn’t, people might start to talk,” There was a glimmer in his eyes that had me grinning slightly. Knowing that, at least in some small way, he was teasing me over my newfound fame as the resident vampire hunter. 

Though perhaps infamy would be a better way to put it….

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