Chapter Text
“We’re not here to hurt anyone.” Avid said calmly, a gentle hand placed on her shoulder, it could very easily become a threat if needed. It wasn’t needed just yet.
“Scott!” Avid yelled over his shoulder, “Get your ass out here for a sec!”
The older of the two elders emerged from the crypt, Squishy growling protectively at his side. It was likely that the two had watched Apo take the first few swings before Avid had gotten her to calm down even just a little bit. Owen stepped to the side, out of the way of Apo’s silver axe. The woman was breathing heavily, panicked, humans often feared what they didn’t understand. Avid knew that well.
“We’re not killing her.” Avid said immediately as Scott opened his mouth to speak, “And we’re not turning her against her will.”
“What the hell else do you expect us to do?” Owen snapped,
Avid looked over at Scott, eyes downturned, pleading. The other elder folded.
“Technically… We don’t have to do either. But I also don’t trust her to keep the coven a secret without some kind of assurance.” Scott spoke, voice a level of calm and confidence that Avid knew well as a mask, a facade designed to protect himself.
“Y- you’re.. not gonna kill.. me?” Apo’s eyes still held fear, Avid would be worried if they weren’t, to be honest.
Apo had someone to go home to, he knew that, that was one of the reasons he needed Scott to agree to this plan. She deserved to go home human unless she chose to turn, Avid wouldn’t allow anyone else to be forcibly turned.
“Enthrall her, then.” Avid shrugged, “That way she can’t blab, and we get some help. Win-win.”
Scott considered it for a moment, looking at the military woman, to the other elder standing beside her. Understanding hit his gaze, he trusted Avid, trusted his judgement enough to believe the outlandish thought that he had already lived all of this. And Avid knew that Scott would not put something up a for debate against him, not when he was so adamant for things to go the ways he wanted them to.
This gave Avid a very real chance to fix things, to make sure no one got hurt the way they did. He needed to make sure things didn’t happen the same way again, he needed to.
He didn’t think he could manage the solitude again if he failed
He wouldn’t fail.
“Enthrall?” Apo asked, axe lowered, she seemed to by that they weren’t going to attack her… For now.
Still feeling so incredibly numb beyond wishing to do better, Avid nodded, “You’d be tied to whoever thralls you. That way, you’re still human, and we know you won’t tell the town about us.”
“Does anyone else know?”
“Abolish.” Avid responded honestly, “But he only knows about me, so keep your mouth shut about the others.”
He couldn’t allow Pyro to succumb to the insanity, couldn’t allow Shelby to be burned alive again. He could stop both of those events if no one—for at least a little while longer—knew about their vampirism. Hence, another reason enthralling Apo would be the best course of action. He nodded to Scott, the elder would understand, he was sure.
Owen scoffed from where he leaned against a tree, “That careless?”
Avid smiled sweetly, “Owen, why don’t you do something useful for once, and go help the fledglings with the castle.”
He opened his mouth to argue, Scott cut him off.
“Avid’s right, go, Owen.” Scott nodded to the two hundred year old.
Watching Owen fly away was the equivalent of watching a teenager stomp back to their room. It was incredibly entertaining, and more than a little pathetic. Avid took joy in the amusement.
“I agree, Avid. Apo, becoming a thrall requires drinking a small amount of blood. For this deal it would only be about a cup, and would only need to be done once. Then, once the contracts up, you’re free to go.”
The human nodded shakily, “O- okay.. S- so, how do we do this?”
She looked a bit sick, right, the fear of blood. Avid looked around for anything that could help with the smell at least. Squishy borked over by a small patch of mint, perfect.
Once Apo was enthralled she was free to go back to town as she pleased.
“What would have happened, had we not enthralled her?” Scott asked,
Avid swallowed the blood in his throat. A deal made for another person to be turned, going against it, killing Scott four times, choosing to be turned out of fear for another person, the internal struggle of trying to retain humanity when you were no longer human.
“Nothing good.” Avid responded, it was easier than the truth.