Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Avid’s throat felt raw from screaming, though he hadn’t been, not anymore, at least. His heart still felt as if it was home to a wooden stake. He felt the aching hunger, body still thinking he was dead, still thinking he needed to be healed.

But he didn’t.

Because he was alive. Avid was alive and he didn’t know how. He knew he was still a vampire, he could feel it in his very being, could feel the desperate hunger as if he’d never been satiated by a single drop of blood. But he was just outside of Oakhurst. An Oakhurst that was empty. 

Empty and as though no one had ever stood foot in there, no sign of the people that had come to Oakhurst at the same moment as Avid.

And strangely he didn’t feel afraid, just hollow. A hole in him that had been filled by a few people before. First it was Elle, something that he ripped away from himself, an action he regretted endlessly. Then it was Drift, the friend that had listened even if she didn’t fully believe it. Then Shelby, Shelby who believed him without question. And then…

Then Scott.

Avid missed Scott, missed the sarcasm, the smooth accented voice that had assured him he would not be harmed within the coven.

Scott hadn’t meant to lie about that. He had meant it. It wasn’t Scott’s fault Owen and Pyro had decided enough was enough. Avid couldn’t find it in himself to be angry. He looked to the mountain he knew the crypt lay within.

He didn’t know why he had woken up. He was supposed to be dead, he was dead, but he was alive.

It was a strange feeling. The water in the fountain showed the same reflection he’d had the first day in Oakhurst.

It was as if Oakhurst had never happened. There was no trace of anybody, not a sound echoed through the ruins.

Violet eyes were in his reflection, a color he hadn’t had in ages. He was a vampire, again, he could feel it. It wasn’t the infection finally taking hold of him. He’d evaded it by asking Shelby to turn him. There were bandages around his throat, bandages that served no purpose anymore.

He unwrapped them, setting them on the stone of the fountain. 

He looked around the barren town, feeling a kind of apathy. But also.. an emotion he couldn’t place. Perhaps it was grief, but that emotion often felt suffocating. Maybe it was acceptance, or sadness. 

But no anger awoke in him. He almost felt numb.

Avid breathed a shaky breath in, though he didn’t need to. Oakhurst needed repairing, if no one was coming, if Oakhurst would never happen. It needed a guardian. 

He missed his coven. He missed Scott. He was hungry.

He looked to the cream colored beacon. He rested a hand on it, smiling faintly at the memory that had been the thing he’d built his theories on. 

“Scott’s a vampire! The beacon stopped consecration as he walked in!”

He’d been right, for all the wrong reasons, but he’d been right.

He sat beside it, might as well desecrate it if he really was the only one here. Alone in an empty town with only passing animals and a neutral beacon to keep him company. He laughed though there was nothing funny going on. The quickest way to insanity indeed.

“God.” Avid was still giggly, he hugged himself the temporary moment of lightness replaced the crushing loneliness.

A thought occurred to him suddenly, “If this is the start..” he mumbled, the beacon glowed a dark comforting red.

“If this is the start again, then.. then he might still be at the castle!”

Chapter Text

Momentarily forgetting the hunger curling in his gut, Avid rushed through the woods that surrounded the empty town. The ruins of the castle were enough to feel as though another stake had run through him. He hadn’t minded the ruins of a town he hadn’t called home since turning, but seeing the place the coven called home yet again reduced the rubble…

He walked down the steps into the maze of catacombs that lay beneath the ruins. Each tomb wasn’t marked, they hadn’t ever been if Avid remembered correctly. 

He knew his hopes were up far too high, the logical part of him relayed what he knew all too well. Why would Scott be here if no one else was? Or, even if he was here, he’d likely still be within the cursed slumber he’d awoken from because of the entrance of the humans.

But logic often was blinded by emotion, and Avid was no exception to that rule.

He found the deepest part of the catacombs, a foreboding coffin lay in the middle of the circular hole. Avid didn’t bother with the ladder, jumping down in a rush to see.. A closed coffin, it wasn’t sealed, likely a temporary cenotaph. But it had someone within.

But he was not awake.

Avid swallowed a sob, he knew, he knew, it wouldn’t be that easy. He was one of the universe’s favorite jokes, and they ripped away something that was all too easily a fresh wound.

He was alone in a town that had no soul. Avid was utterly and completely alone in every sense of the word. His only company was a still cursed elder vampire that wouldn’t even know who he was when—if—he woke up.

Avid sat at the base of the coffin, looking up at the ceiling that held stone engravings. Nothing but the best, he remembers Scott saying.

But that was a life only he had lived this time. 

Eventually he started the walk out of the catacombs, he didn’t know how long he’d been down there but seeing as it was night rather than the day, it had likely been a while. He didn’t fear the woods at night, not like he had as a human, the woods were as much of his home as the castle had been. At least the woods hadn’t been burned down this time.

Avid bit down into the flesh of a pig, tasting the blood soothing the worst of his lingering pain. Maybe he could’ve actually enjoyed it had he had the energy. But he felt numb in every meaning of that simple word.

A howl went through the woods.

“The wolves are migrating eastwards.” Owen had cautioned, before it all, before the stake, even before the thought of Avid as one of them.

Avid looked up from his meal, he’d been pulling apart the flesh of the pig he’d just killed. An albino wolf, that looked almost stained with blood under the moon, walked up to him. 

It was eyeing the pig, Avid tossed it a chunk of meat. There was no need to be needlessly cruel to an innocent animal. He could almost laugh at that, he’d just killed an innocent animal.

The wolf gobbled down the meat easily, trotting a little closer to Avid now that it knew he wasn’t a threat. 

“Go ahead,” Avid told it, nodding to the body of the pig, “I can’t eat all of this alone.”

After it got its full, it rested its head on Avid’s lap. The vampire laughed, scratching behind the wolf’s ear. 

“Who said wolves were dangerous?” Avid mumbled, knowing the untruthfulness behind his own words.

The creature likely recognized another dangerous predator, it would not risk its life just to start a fight with someone it didn’t know it could beat. There was no pack nearby, the wolf was a loner. Avid smiled faintly, he knew all too well what that was like. How it felt. He felt it now as the only one left of the group of people that had come to Oakhurst—or rather the only one who had come—and he felt for the wolf.

Avid stood, whistled for the wolf to follow him, something the wolf did eagerly.

Chapter Text

Avid had begun referring to the wolf as Squishy, he didn’t really know why, it just felt like it fit. Under the sun it was clear that Squishy’s fur did actually have hints of blood red, it wasn’t stains, and it hadn’t been a trick of the moon. But the wolf was a sweet pup, and Avid would kill anyone who hurt him.

He’d begun starting work to rebuild the town, starting with Meep Manor. Avid didn’t know why he felt compelled to rebuild, part of him really didn’t want to.

But maybe if he’d built it people would come back, and then he wouldn’t be alone anymore. 

Or at the very least it would cast the illusion of a populated town. 

Avid was just grateful he wasn’t completely alone, as Squishy had been insistent to remind him. The wolf was incredibly affectionate, it was only annoying when Avid was trying to lug lumber to the house sites.

“Squishy.” Avid muttered, trying to push the wolf to the side with his foot, “Move.”

He sat, looking up at his new owner with loving red eyes. Avid let out an annoyed yet affectionate huff. Moving course to step around the pup. It was only a little annoying that this happened almost every time Avid was hauling stuff with his arms full. The wolf was a greedy thing, greedy for attention, that is. Avid couldn’t blame him, not when he’d likely been alone this whole time.

Progress was slow, but Avid liked having the consistency to have something to do. Something that needed fixing. 

The beacon’s red glow became even more apparent as the equally red moon started to rise. The uncomfortable sensation of the sun pricking at his skin left. Avid whistled for Squishy to follow him, the wolf hobbled over.

“Why don’t we go for a quick hunt?” Avid smiled, the wolf yipped happily, jumping with joy at the single word: hunt.

Walking through the woods with Squishy was shockingly stealthy. The pup was a loudmouth the second they stepped within the palisade, but when he knew there was food on the line, he shut his own mouth and focused. It was an interesting thing, to watch a wolf’s hunt. It wasn’t all that dissimilar to how the coven had hunted.

“What are we after today?” Avid muttered under his breath, eyes scanning the treeline.

A movement of white and then they were off. Avid bit into the sheep’s neck, tasting the metallic flavor of its blood. Once it was drained Squishy started digging into the meat. 

“Good boy.” Avid grinned,

“Bork.” Squishy replied.

Such were the riveting conversations Avid now engaged in.

Chapter Text

Reconstructing Meep Manor didn’t take that long. What he didn’t have in people around, Avid could make up with vampiric abilities. He didn’t know if he would give up one for the other, likely not, but… He did miss Drift and Shelby. But he didn’t really want to think about that at the moment, Squishy was sitting beside the fountain, sniffing at the few garlic patches Avid hadn’t cleared out yet.

“First house is done,” Avid told the wolf, “Any suggestions on the next one?”

“Bork.”

Squishy stood, walking to a plot that—

“I think as much as you claim you want to be a vampire, I don’t think you have what it takes”

“You guys… You wouldn’t.”

“Wait- Please, no, no, please NO—”

Avid stumbled away from the lot, his ears were ringing, he realized faintly. His wolf looked up at him with concern, could wolves feel things like concern. Avid swallowed roughly, trying to calm the illusion of a pounding heart.

“No!” Avid snapped before he could stop himself. He lowered the tone of voice, “N- no, I.. I think we’ll save that one for later…”

The point where he’d been staked burned, he knew there was still a mark left there. A small circular scar that told the story without words. Whatever had brought him back didn’t care if Avid had marks as a painful reminder of his coven’s betrayal. He almost laughed at that. The coven hadn’t betrayed him, Owen and Pyro had. There was a difference, a very firm one. Drift, Sausage, Shelby, and Scott wouldn’t have done that.

Cleo might’ve, if they felt so inclined, but they never liked dealing with Scott.

Apo had wanted all of them dead.

But in the end it had been the two Avid had foolishly decided to trust despite their history. Led into a sense of false security like a lamb to the slaughter. He had turned every other beacon in the valley of Oakhurst, every single one, except the Crypt.

He couldn’t, he just… He hadn’t been able to go any closer to the Crypt than he already had. Standing outside of the place that was—in technical terms—his grave. The grave he’d built himself, poetic irony. 

Because Avid had been a fool, he’d been a fool to try and turn the town beacon. A fool to rush to the lake and get killed, only to be brought back by Limbo. A fool to follow Owen and Pyro blindly to a permanent death.

It hadn’t been so permanent, after all.

“Bork.”

Avid swallowed the feeling of bile in his throat, “L- let’s start with Shelby and Scott’s.”

He mumbled, walking numbly to the plot two members of his coven had lived. Though the home had mostly been Shelby’s, Scott had made it clear it was always his goal to rebuild and live in the castle. But he had cared about his roommate.

Avid would rebuild the castle eventually, there was nothing else to do, alone in the stupid valley of Oakhurst.

“Bork.”

Not completely alone.

“C’mon, Squishy.” Avid smiled faintly, 

Chapter Text

Avid blew out a slow breath, he needed to gather some wheat to lure some cows or sheep into the pen he’d just finished making. It was a smaller garden just to the side of the start of Pearl and Cleo’s house. He was pointedly not looking anywhere near the plot where Sausage and… had lived. 

“Bork.” Squishy yipped, sitting just outside the small garden.

One of these days he really did need to make a larger one, maybe just around the walls. There was another one by the fountain, but he hadn’t cleared out all the garlic patches around there quite yet. Just another thing to keep him busy, to distract his mind from everything else.

Avid shook his head, grabbing a stalk of wheat, and heading outside of the walls. Squishy followed, as he always did. There were never all that many animals in the clearing where the town sat, always hiding within the trees. That was likely due to the history Oakhurst held, the blood that had soaked into its very essence. When Avid had been human, he had felt similar. And maybe he did now, with only the ruins, and his wolf companion as company.

He missed Scott.

He missed Shelby.

He missed Drift.

He missed how everything had been before he’d so foolishly run off on his own. Before he’d trusted Owen and Pyro to keep him safe. How he’d dug his own grave within the pit fall trap at the Crypt.

A location he still couldn’t go near without feeling shaky, like he’d been staked all over again. Like the embrace of Limbo’s forests had felt.

Somewhere along the way the plan to get animals had faded. He stood on one end of the wrecked bridge, staring at the castle that had once been home longingly. Wishing that black walls and red stained glass would suddenly appear over the horizon, but it never did. In its place sat the cold gray ruins, and the red light that radiated from the desecrated beacon.

He missed his coven.

He missed his home.

His life before everything, before his foolish choice to trust those he knew disliked him. It was a feeling of both apathy and sorrow. Possibly mourning the man he’d been, while still unsure of who the man he saw in the reflection of the water was.

Dark gray hair flipped into his gaze, somewhat obscuring the ruins of what had been home. He tucked it back behind his ear, he should probably make something to hold it back with. It had gotten longer, sitting just below his shoulders. It didn’t really grow like it would had he still been human, only shifting when he moved up a stage.

Stage two was convenient, he could still touch the garlic patches without welts forming in cold skin.

And the thought of stage three made him feel sick. The appearance he’d held when he’d died.

And how cowardly was it? The same man that had killed his partner—no, his sister, though he didn’t deserve to call her that—using the same weapon, couldn’t handle even looking like he had when the same was done unto him. He. Was. Pathetic.

“Bork.” Squishy bumped Avid’s hand, trying to get his attention.

Avid sighed, looking down at his only companion, “Suppose it could be worse, eh?”

“Bork.” Came the wolf’s reply.

Avid sighed, he missed having someone to talk to. Whether that be discussions on more historical or violent things with Drift, or talking about the excitement to make the humans suffer as they’d made them with Scott, or the wonder that came with theorizing with Shelby.

Squishy’s simple replies didn’t fill the hole—the void—where his coven had sat.

The hole that Elle had filled, then she had died, and wasn’t that just such a cowardly way to say he’d killed her.

“Let’s find the animals.” Avid muttered, walking back into the livewood.

His heart was still asleep in the catacombs below, and how his chest ached without him.

Chapter Text

Avid looked around the town, most of the houses had been completed, actually all of them except two had been finished. Two he couldn’t bear to go near. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been stuck in Oakhurst. And he was stuck, he’d tried to leave, but the barrier was still somehow in place, and he’d pounded on it, screaming at whatever god there was to let him out! 

After that he’d felt like drowning, submerged under the water in the lake, water that had looked like blood under the moon. There was one problem, though. The issue being that he couldn’t drown.

He’d been a bit more creative after that, that being a small silver knife that burned so nicely against shredded wrists. There wasn’t a stake, never a stake. He didn’t want to die, he just.. wanted to feel alive. And if that come at the cost of most of his blood, so be it.

Squishy placed his head on Avid’s lap. They were sitting at the fountain now, a nearly completed town sat so unbearably empty. A castle that needed rebuilding as well but he just couldn’t make himself do it.

He wanted his coven back, he couldn’t bear to rebuild without them. Not when it had been their home for longer than it had been his.

“Bork.” Squishy said as Avid had stopped scratching the top of his head.

Avid sighed, looking down at his loving companion. His only companion these days. He knew where Scott was, though the man he loved was still stuck in a cursed sleep. He knew Owen was somewhere, buried under the soil of the valley of Oakhurst. But he didn’t know where the lumberjack had laid himself to rest.

Maybe that would have subdued some of Avid’s lasting struggle, being able to kill the man that had pulled the strings to kill him.

He’d lost track of time, though it seemed dragging, sometimes he just destroyed and rebuilt some of the houses. Other times he and Squishy would spend hours hunting in the woods.

And sometimes he just laid underneath the sun that pricked at his skin so deliciously painfully. Or the moon, looking up at its bloodied surface.

He’d forced himself to turn the crypt beacon, forcing himself within his own grave, after it had been turned, he’d sworn never to step foot within it again. The barrier didn’t drop. Avid was trapped, and even if people came back, and Oakhurst happened all over again. Avid had no way of knowing if he’d be allowed to leave after all of that.

If he would even live through it again.

Or maybe he was doomed to this loop, if he died again maybe he’d be sent back to the start. He was tempted then, just to carve another stake, just to see if he’d finally die or not.

But he didn’t. Not when Scott lay asleep, buried in the catacombs beneath the castle. 

They started walking through the forest. Avid started wondering if this was his karma for killing Elle, for wanting to murder everyone within the town he’d rebuilt. 

Eternally doomed to be alone, with the man he loved so close and yet so far away, and only a wolf—that he was now aware was not actually a wolf—for company.

And Squishy wasn’t a wolf, not really anyway. Avid had now ability to keep track of the days, but he knew that they’d been trapped here far longer than the average wolf’s lifespan. At least fate had gifted him a loyal pup that wouldn’t abandon him.

Squishy was as stuck as Avid was, that’s where he’d built the theory of Squishy being a demon of some kind off of. And maybe that was why Avid couldn’t leave, not when he was still technically claimed by a greater demon.

He’d escaped turning into one only to be driven mad with a new curse that was rooted in whatever had claimed him.

He missed Scott.

He missed Shelby.

He missed Drift.

Avid tripped over a large piece of lumber. He looked at it carefully.

“Is this.. big enough.” He wondered quietly, marking up the measurements in his head.

Well, he had nothing better to do, and the days were only passing slower.

Squishy brought him string from a spider’s nest as he carved away at the leftover lumber. Oakhurst was quiet, Avid used to say he liked the quiet, he hated the quiet. Then Squishy somehow got hold of small nuggets of gold Avid could use for pegs.

It sure as hell wasn’t a pretty guitar, but it worked, and it filled the silence Avid so dreaded.

Chapter Text

The strumming of a guitar echoed through the halls of the tomb. Avid sat behind the chest, mindlessly plucking at a tune. Squishy rested his head once again in his owner’s lap. The guitar did what Avid had wished it to, fill the silence Avid so dreaded within the valley of Oakhurst.

His hands shook whenever there wasn’t a consistent trend of the music, though music felt like too strong a word. There were songs he could play, but some felt too out of reach.

Too sharp a reminder of his solitude without Elle there to sing along. Or without Drift there to sit and watch.

The vampire sighed, looking at the dull stone walls as if they could provide any solution to this situation. They held no answer, and Avid could no longer bear to go near the town. Not when every house was built except the ones that— He didn’t want to think about that, it made the stake mark burn with a bright fervor. All too similar to the pain of the possession marks on his neck had felt before he’d accepted vampirism.

“Bork.” Squishy noted, looking up with soft red eyes at Avid.

Avid closed his eyes, breathing wasn’t required, but it did help sometimes, “I don’t know, what else do you think I should be doing?”

“Bork.”

“That’s.. not helpful, Squishy.”

Avid was really tired. The fatigue that clung to your very bones that never quite seemed to go away. He couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t felt that fatigue.

It had been all too long as he was stuck in his solitude. 

Avid sighed again, “Would you wake me up if you felt like it was time? I know you’re probably connected to whatever brought me back.”

His watery red eyes held the eye contact with Avid’s own, “Bork.”

Avid stood, breaking into the wall of the tomb. He didn’t think if humans came they’d want to see someone asleep behind the book chests. Though he didn’t even know if they’d come. But Avid couldn’t find it within himself to care at the moment. If they came it would likely be past the point of the town he’d built up again destroying itself due to the elements.

He set the guitar to his side, lying on his back. Squishy rested beside him, Avid gave him one last scratch behind the ear before he fell asleep.

Chapter Text

“Bork!” Squishy barked straight into the vampire’s ear.

Avid jumped, suddenly awake in a matter of what was not even seconds. The wolf looked smug, clearly proud of his ability to wake up his owner. Avid rolled his eyes, scratching the demon’s head gently. Avid had a few guesses to how long he’d been out of it, maybe it was an internal thing, seeing as both Scott and Owen knew how long they’d been asleep.

Scott.

Squishy had been told to wake him when he thought necessary. The both of them knew Avid meant if Oakhurst started again. He rushed to stand, dusting off his clothes. He picked up his pickaxe breaking through the wall he’d been hiding behind for around five hundred years at this point.

The tomb was quiet as it had been the day Avid had given up. New spirit rushed through Avid’s bones, the wolf followed after him as he sprinted out of the tomb.

How Squishy got out, Avid never knew, but he did. Avid slowed his pace, walking through the forests of Oakhurst that never really changed. The only change that Avid would ever see in those same trees was when the townsfolk had decided to burn them to the ground. A brash and foolish decision that would aid them little.

“Bork.” Squishy walked ahead of Avid, a trail that—

His ears caught onto the sounds of voices. People. Avid felt as if he could cry, the effects from his solitude still heavy in weight.

Avid followed the wolf through the woods, meeting up with two people he recognized. Yes, this was the start of Oakhurst. Pearl and Pyro were chatting at an intersection in the path.

“Are you looking for the town?” Avid asked, appearing from the treeline.

Pyro jumped, clutching his heart. His heart that was beating loudly in Avid’s ears. He was human, of course he was. This was Oakhurst, and it had finally begun. It had only taken around seven hundred years to do so.

Pearl smiled, “Yes, are you from here?”

“No, just a traveler, I arrived today but have visited before.” Avid lied easily, though it wasn’t necessarily a lie. 

More of a lie by withheld rather than what was outright.

The woman cooed, seeing the wolf beside him, “And who is this?”

Avid chuckled, “This is Squishy, I’m Avid.”

The huntress scratched Squishy’s head gently. The wolf soaked up all the newfound attention. The bloody traitor. Avid had expected that reaction from Pearl, she was a lover of the creatures of the wild. On top of that, she was a hunter, similar to Avid. He had respected that when he’d known, if a little terrified of the woman.

“My name’s Pearl.” Pearl grinned, standing straight again.

“I’m Pyro.” Pyro nodded,

Avid was trying to ignore the scholar at the present moment. Though he knew it didn’t quite make sense, this Pyro had done nothing to him, yet. But Pyro was still human at this moment, and things would be different, the cause of that mostly being Avid’s nature as a vampire now instead of a desperate choice made later on. 

The three—four—of them walked through the path, it led them to the lake. Pearl’s eye caught on the beacon immediately, a beacon that was glowing a holy orange. Avid wrinkled his nose, should’ve figured the humans in the past five hundred years would’ve messed with them.

“Mate, can you not swim?” Pearl asked the man at the edge of the water.

Avid’s blood boiled. He clenched his fist, Squishy gently pressed his muzzle against it. A gentle reminder to stay calm, for now. Avid could tell there was resting rage in his companion as well.

“I was making a boat.” Owen nodded to the tree he’d been cutting down, “No point in needlessly getting myself wet.”

Avid trudged ahead, he was going to Oakhurst. He wanted to find Drift, and Shelby, and Scott. They’d all likely be there, he noted as he looked up at the time of day. Yes, most everybody would arrive in the town of Oakhurst soon enough.

“Bork.”

“Yes.” Avid nodded, “I think we try to do things a little differently this time.”

Chapter Text

The town was a familiar ruin, this time with people running around within it. Words could not express whatever emotion struck Avid so strongly as he looked around. People he knew, but did not yet know him, filling the town like they had so long ago. Squishy was trotting beside Avid, subject to many’s attention.

Sausage was nosy as ever, Cleo as hostile, Legs as frustrating, Abolish as quiet.

“Bork!” Squishy yipped, Abolish studied the wolf carefully.

Something like dread hit Avid then, there was a reason Abolish had been the most feared the first time around. A part of some organization if the murmurings around town were to be believed.

And Avid had held a surplus of time to dig into whatever little he knew about the individual people of Oakhurst.

“And you are?” Avid crossed his arms, stepping in front of his pet to block Abolish’s gaze.

The man stood straight again, “Abolish, and you?”

“Avid.” He replied curtly, walking by, Squishy following as he always did.

Avid looked around the newly filled town, his eyes looking for one person. He caught the gaze of deep blue eyes, he didn’t need to breathe, but it felt like all the air had been knocked out of him. Scott looked the same as he had the first day of Oakhurst, because that is what this was.

A second chance, one Avid would rather die again than waste.

Beside the man that captured his unbeating heart so fully stood Shelby. And suddenly his mind was as scrambled as it had been when he was human, multiple different thoughts—that often contradicted each other—speaking all at once.

His sire, his friend, the only one that had fully believed his worries about the area.

His love, his heart, the one that accepted him after he’d made the right choice.

And oh how good it felt to see two of the people he cared most for again. Avid knew the events that would occur these first few days of Oakhurst, Pyro would be turned in a matter of days if Avid did not change it. And maybe things could be different this time, no longer the one the town immediately deemed as crazy, without the fear and panic that had caused him to accuse Scott.

Things would be different, Avid would ensure it.

“Bork!” Squishy barked again, suddenly walking up to the two people Avid had been watching.

Avid’s face flushed despite the distinct lack of blood in his system. Squishy was far from the best partner in crime, it seemed.

Scott looked somewhat alarmed, Shelby studied the wolf carefully.

“Sorry!” Avid yelped, running to catch up with his pup, “He doesn’t normally run up on people like that.”

“What on earth?” Scott muttered, his smooth accent accentuating the syllables beautifully.

“What is he?” Shelby grinned, her amber eyes lighting up her whole face behind her glasses.

Glasses he hadn’t seen in so long, after Martyn had burned her alive they’d been put away. She’d had no need for them after that. Avid wanted her turned, he was sure Scott would feel similarly, but he hoped he could change the circumstance in which she left town.

“This is Squishy,” Avid smiled, “He’s a wolf, he’s been sticking around with me for a few years now.”

It wasn’t a simple few years, Squishy had been his sole company through centuries of solitude. Ensuring he was safe when Avid no longer wished to be awake to see the years past. He was his friend, one of his closest ones, his only close friend now that Elle was dead, and Shelby and Drift didn’t know him yet.

He needed to change that, he hoped it wouldn’t take all that long. He missed his friends.

Scott could clearly tell that Squishy was not a simple wolf. Avid would’ve been shocked if he had bought that explanation. The elder vampire had always been clever, Avid knew the moment he had a guess of some immortal creature as to what Squishy was, he would soon after discover Avid.

Good.

The sooner the vampires could work together, the better. Avid only wished that the humans wouldn’t be as targeted, if only for the people who didn’t yet know him as well as he knew them.

“I see.” Scott hummed, leveling Avid with a look, “My name is Scott Goldsmith, what of you?”

“Avid.” Avid smiled faintly, reliving this first meeting without the insistent fear was.. bizarre, to say the least.

“I’m Shelby!” Shelby grinned widely, “Can I ask you a few more questions about Squishy?”

Avid agreed, listening to each of her questions carefully, and trying to provide a solid answer without giving away that neither of them were even close to mortal or human. Scott watched, his mind piecing things together, hopefully he’d label Avid as a vampire soon enough if only to save him from needing to tail after him, Owen, and Pyro before they’d turned Pyro.

Things would be different this time, they would, Avid would ensure it. He wouldn’t waste his second chance. 

Chapter Text

The conversation he’d had with Scott and Shelby soothed the lingering worry that he was dreaming… Or just insane, which wasn’t a sharp cry from what could be happening. It was a difficult thing, to believe his solitude—something he’d thought likely permanent—had finally ended. Especially when Scott was right there, awake and talking fondly with the woman that would become his closest friend.

Squishy was soaking up all the attention he got from the townsfolk, it was seeming like everyone truly believed he was just a docile wolf. Aside from the people Avid knew wouldn’t, and he had expected this reaction when it came to his loyal friend. They hadn’t believed him about vampires, why would they guess Squishy was anything more than a wolf.

Avid looked around the town that was now so full of life. Trying to soak it all in best he could. The solitude had worn on him, he knew this, it was the main reason he’d decided to sleep through it.

Finally, finally, there were people back in Oakhurst.

“Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met just yet.” Drift adjusted her monocle.

Drift, his best friend, the one person that he’d trusted with almost the full story before Shelby turned him. God he’d missed her.

“My name is Avid,” Avid smiled, “and yours?”

“Drift.”

She was real, they were all real, every part of it confirmed when Squishy rushed up to them. And maybe that was the real reason he seemed to be running around so sporadically, to prove to Avid that they were finally out of the past.

It only took seven hundred years.

“What’s your profession?” Was the question Drift next asked.

Avid felt like he could wince, “I’m an alchemist.” He replied, which wasn’t that far from the truth.

Elle had been the one that was really a hunter, Avid was the one sitting to the side. He’d made potions and weapons and things alike, he’d found a love for alchemy eventually. It would never fill the gap that was filled by the thrumming of guitar strings, but it was something he genuinely enjoyed doing.

“You?” Avid asked,

She paled somewhat, right, the orchid killer. The thing that had caused her to run to Oakhurst. Avid regretted asking the question, wished he’d been smarter than that. He had to be better if he wanted anything to change this time.

At least there was no panic, no desperate yelling of vampires, this time. That had already changed how the town saw him. Now they saw a traveler, a quiet man with a wolf as his companion, one with mulberry eyes that were clear—not fogged by what he perceived as concern but the others saw as madness. It was a better attempt than the last one had been, thank God.

“I- I’m a detective.” Drift tried for a smile, but it felt strained.

He didn’t ask what brought her to Oakhurst like he knew others would, he wouldn’t push for that information. No longer was he the man that dug around for proof that his peers were vampires.

He could almost laugh at that, standing before the others as a vampire himself. How the tables had turned from the first time Avid had lived through these same events.

She noticed Squishy again beside him, Drift studied the wolf carefully, “And who is he?”

“Squishy.” Avid shrugged, “He’s harmless,” That was a lie, “Wouldn’t hurt a fly, honestly scared of his own shadow.” That wasn’t a lie, but Squishy gave him a sharp glare to the side for it though.

Avid smirked down at the wolf, a silent message of, you drag me over to the man you know I’m still in love with, I tell the truth about what an absolute baby you are.

“Bork!” Squishy huffed, miffed at what he clearly interpreted the way Avid wanted him to.

“Fascinating.” Drift murmured, her mystery brain clearly activated.

Chapter Text

Avid fidgeted with the bandages wrapped around his arm and hand. There were a few reasons for it, the main one had been to stem the blood flowing from… That, but also a more practical reason. If he didn’t have his claws or a weapon he would still be able to defend himself. He may not have been out in the field with Elle often, but she had still insisted he learned a thing or two.

Even if he was still just as useless

Squishy borked from where he was sat below the progress to Merp Manor. Avid smiled fondly, glancing down just to acknowledge his pet. 

He climbed down the ladder, “I’m gonna grab some more lumber.” Avid called up to his housemate.

“Sounds like a plan.” Drift grinned, giving the vampire an exaggerated thumbs up.

Avid smiled fondly, whistling for Squishy to follow. It was nearing nightfall, if Avid remembered correctly tonight was the time of Pyro’s turning. He needed to get there, not only did it not make sense to turn Pyro with the three of them in town, he did not want him turned yet. Maybe, a very slim chance, but maybe, he could convince Scott to wait. Three vampires in a small town was already pushing, they’d gotten to four before getting jumped by Cleo and Martyn.

He didn’t know how long they should want to stay based in Oakhurst. Avid knew it was inevitable, that the vampires would need to leave and the town would become the key point of what was essentially a war. The townsfolk would fortify, people would be turned, and they would attempt to remain in town.

Avid was not that. It had been his plan initially, but he hadn’t lasted a single day staying in town. The garlic too suffocating, the silver cramping, and the beacon like a constant reminder of what he’d lost by choosing this new chance at life.

He didn’t regret his choice, nothing far to it. He hadn’t regretted it through his solitude, he’d just… Been stuck. Avid hated feeling trapped, it was the last thing he’d felt except for pain.

He heard the footsteps of three people, heard their voices, felt the stinging of the sun fade into the embrace of the blood stained moon.

Scott, Owen, and Pyro.

He’d been right. Squishy crouched down watching through the underbrush at the other men’s legs. 

“Gentlemen.” Avid nodded, stepping out of the brush.

Pyro jumped, blue eyes—blue not red—filling with panic, “Where did..” He trailed off, a hand over what Avid could hear as a rapidly bearing heart.

Avid looked to the two vampires in the group in front of him, “It is not wise to turn him.” He said, voice quiet enough so the two could hear him but Pyro couldn’t.

Scott seemed somewhat intrigued, likely wondering why someone like Avid was telling him what to do. He could likely tell that Avid was, in fact, a vampire, obviously. But Avid’s situation was… So to speak, unique. 

“I don’t buy that.” Owen hissed at the same tone, “There’s no way you are—”

“That all of us are, actually.” Avid cut him off, smirking lightly,

Scott nodded, “He is correct, Owen.”

“Right, well I’m certain I have claim here.”

Avid snorted, “No, not a shot.”

“How old are you then?!”

“Scott is clearly older, but I’m a little over seven hundred, now.”

Owen paled somewhat, “And Scott…”

“About twelve hundred, I suppose.” The nobleman smiled broadly at Owen.

The fledgling—because that’s what he was, Avid could see it—looked between the two of them. Mostly at Scott, which was to be expected. Scott was ancient, someone who was put into slumber instead of being killed because he wouldn’t die. He’d bragged about it various times, even as Avid held a stake over him, and Avid knew in that moment that it wouldn’t even work if he were to kill him then and there.

Being older than Owen was a treat though, almost makes the two hundred years of depression and pain worth it. No, no it didn’t.

“I suppose you’ve got claim then.” Owen huffed, leaning against a nearby tree.

He was a child, dear god, how was anyone scared of this man? He wasn’t keeping his voice low anymore either, that hubris filled fool.

“What are you guys… Claim over what?” Pyro stepped back slightly, they hadn’t even made it to the Obelisk, something like unease pricked at Avid’s arms.

“I highly advise against turning him.” Avid noted to Scott, keeping the tone low again, “There are already three of us in town, the humans will catch on faster with more of us.”

Squishy trotted back beside Avid, he smelled of fresh blood. Avid rolled his eyes exasperatedly at the demon, really? He was that petty? Who is Avid kidding, of course his pet demon was a petty little bitch about Avid teasing him somewhat.

Scott hummed, looking at Pyro pensively. 

“The only reason Pyro would be any good to turn is food, and we are able to hunt regardless.” Avid mused, looking back up from his dog.

“Fine, though I would like to have a conversation with you, Avid.” Scott decided,

Chapter Text

Silence stretched on as the two vampires walked a distance away to talk. Squishy had stayed behind, something he didn’t do often, but Avid got the sense he was watching Owen. Squishy didn’t like Owen, likely because Avid hated him.

“Who are you?” Scott crossed his arms, “You aren’t one of my fledglings.”

Avid let out a dry laugh, “No, I got here a bit late for that. And two hundred years of pure solitude tell that story well. I am simply a traveler, I was turned before I came, then the boundaries trapped me inside.”

He didn’t tell him how he’d turned the beacons. How each of them had held a crimson hue and yet he was still trapped. Didn’t tell him the days he’d spent screaming and cursing any god that may exist in this godforsaken world. No, Scott didn’t need to know about that yet. For now, he’d allow the elder vampire to think the beacons had not yet existed. Oh how Avid wished that were actually the case.

“And your… Companion, you are aware he’s not—”

“Not a regular wolf?” Avid guessed, smiling faintly, “I’m aware, Squishy has been with me my entire time in Oakhurst.” 

Another simple lie, the time of a month and a half sat without his wolf friend. But that had been before whatever had claimed him and sent him back too far. Before they were desperate to keep Avid somewhat sane, and in that sent Squishy for him.

“I’ve been here for seven hundred years, that’s not exactly the average wolf’s lifespan.” He finished, looking at the ocean depths held in Scott’s gaze.

He wished they could skip to the middle, where Avid had just betrayed the town, where he’d realized his love for Scott. When he’d thought that maybe Scott loved him back. He hadn’t killed him for kissing him beside the beacon, so that boded at least somewhat well. But that was gone now, and this Scott barely knew Avid. The one thing Avid didn’t wish to change.

“Who sired you? Why would they allow you to remain trapped here?”

Avid’s ears rang, his fists clenching suddenly. The scars on his neck burned, the scars on his wrists were pools of fire.

“Who is your sire.” Came Avid’s stiff response, it wasn’t a question, he wouldn’t receive an answer. That was the point.

Scott stiffened slightly, “Ah, I see we’ve met at an impasse, then.”

“So it would seem.”

Shelby hadn’t abandoned him, she’d tried so hard to help him. Turning him had been against her morals, only doing it because she cared for him deeply. He missed his sire, he missed his Shelby. He was really tired, tired of seeing the people he had loved and had missed to the point of insanity again had taken a toll, because none of them knew him yet.

Drift had moved in with him on an impulse, something he was thankful for. He’d missed her as well.

Shelby enjoyed discussing the supernatural with him, just like last time, and it only made Avid wish for her to be turned already.

Scott, who was standing in front of him, trying to piece him together like a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.

Scott opened his mouth to speak again, but nothing came out as a ringing sensation hit them both once again.

The turning of another vampire.

New Blood.

Pyro.

Chapter Text

Avid dropped out of his bat form just before reaching the ground, clenching his fist, and nailing Owen right in the nose. It was satisfying as hell to break that man’s nose. Squishy had been biting at his heels.

“What the hell were you thinking!” Avid snapped, baring his fangs while Owen clutched at his very clearly broken nose.

Scott landed beside them, placing a pacifying hand on Avid’s shoulder, “Check on Pyro.”

Avid grit his teeth, but obliged. Squishy following at his heels as they walked over to the passed out fledgling. Great, now he had to deal with both of his killers as vampires. Fantastic. He’d been trying to be nicer to Pyro, trying being the key word, this Pyro hadn’t done anything wrong. Not yet. This Pyro did nothing to deserve Avid’s anger, yet. Owen on the other hand, God Avid wished he could do worse than a broken nose.

Avid crouched down, shoving Pyro’s shoulder to wake him up.

Pyro sat up immediately, eyes wide and panicked, where they had been blue they now had a near invisible ring of red around the pupil. Just like Scott, Avid, and Owen. Yup, he was a vampire. Damn it.

“Congratulations,” Avid mused, “You’re dead, or.. undead, I guess. You can sleep off the transformation later, don’t really feel like dragging your ass back to town.”

“W- what just— yo- you and Owen and- and Scott, y- you’re…”

“Vampires.” Avid confirmed, “And now, thanks to Owen, you are too.”

The elder of the two didn’t even bothering trying to mask his annoyance at this development. He was allowed to be angry, but not at Pyro, not right now. He bit his tongue, tasking the iron from his own blood. 

He stood, walking back over to where Scott was talking to Owen. Squishy stood by Pyro, watching him carefully.

“Neither of you laid claim, that leaves it to me.” Owen argued,

Avid snorted, which only fueled Owen’s foolish rage.

“Got something to say?”

“We have claim over this land, Owen, that includes the townsfolk. No matter who we choose to turn or not.”

“Avid is correct, Owen.” Scott crossed his arms, 

“Of course you’d say that.” Owen muttered, only audible because of the heightened vampiric sense.

Avid’s eye twitched. Still the exact same Owen he had been when he’d pulled the strings to get Avid killed. His stake scar burned, his vision felt tinted with red. How dare he. The fact that Scott didn’t really know him well yet be damned, no one got to so callously insult him like that. Avid felt ready to kill him, now more than ever, he didn’t even really care people would find out and banish him from town, or kill him again.

If anything he’d just reset again. Though that was a fate he’d rather not repeat. It would be worth it for this. 

He’d live through solitude time and time again if it meant he could help Scott.

“Enough.” Scott hissed, grabbing Owen by the collar, “What’s done is done, but what you have done will not be accepted again, Owen. I’m certain your sire would be dissapointed.”

Avid felt a sense of sick pleasure as Owen recoiled with anger pulled into his expression again. 

He turned down to Squishy, checking him over, “You get a few hits in?”

“Bork.” Squishy replied smugly.

“Good boy.”

Pyro seemed dazed, likely in shock. Avid let out a slow breath, walking beside him.

“Apologies on his behalf.” Avid smiled faintly, “Turnings shouldn’t be a forceful thing.”

“So you chose this?” He asked

Avid thought of the circumstances in which he’d asked—begged—Shelby to turn him. Fear had been the driver, Avid the passenger. 

“My sire was a very good friend of mine.” Avid responded, “She only turned me because I asked.”

Conversation dropped rather fast after that. The elder vampire found himself grateful for that, he did not want to talk about his past life. He missed the people who had been a part of it, people he had back, but not the same. Not when they didn’t know him or his story anymore. Not when he had to regain their trust and friendship. He sighed, Squishy borking beside him. Mindful of his owner’s distress.

“What is he?” Pyro questioned, looking down at Squishy.

“Squishy.” Avid replied.

“That doesn’t really answer it.” Pyro noted.

Avid shrugged, “He’s Squishy, best not to question it.”

Scott was watching the two of them, Avid realized suddenly, looking up. The elder looked to have a fond look on his face. Avid smiled and for the first time in a while, it didn’t feel forced.

Chapter Text

Pyro wasn’t… awful company it seemed. To be fair, Avid hadn’t known him all that well when he was still human the first time around. And well.. Avid had necessarily been friendly to the vampires—except Shelby and maybe Scott—before he’d been turned. But the scholar wasn’t a horrible conversationalist, someone Avid now wished he’d bothered to get to know the first time round.

Second chances, this was Avid’s. He would give Pyro one, as he hadn’t done anything wrong. Not yet, and Avid doubted he would with the way things went, and the situation they were now in.

Avid was an elder vampire now, not the careless, overconfident, fledgling he’d been when he’d so foolishly trusted the past Pyro and Owen. 

And things wouldn’t go the way they did last time. Avid would make sure of it, he may not have been able to keep Pyro from turning, but he could still work change. He was certain of it. Squishy seemed to slowly take a liking to the fledgling as well, clearly sensing Avid’s want to give him another chance. The wolf walked between the two, protective of Avid, but not growling at Pyro as he had before. As he did with Owen.

Owen was walking in the back of the group of vampires, watching the three up ahead. Avid wanted to rebreak his nose already, it had healed rather quickly due to the man's nature. Likely a good thing considering they were still trying to remain in town.

Scott walked up ahead, the eldest of the group leading up front. He glanced back occasionally, watching Pyro and Avid talk.

“We’re nearing the town’s clearing.” Scott called to the group as a warning.

They didn’t need to raise suspicion immediately, that had been one of Avid’s main concerns in turning Pyro. Now that there wasn’t someone like Avid had been running around town and rambling about vampires to anyone that would listen, there was far less pressure on their backs. Not that anyone but Avid knew that.

Avid watched as Pyro swallowed roughly. Anxiety, worry, fear, all things Avid was accompanied with. And they painted Pyro’s expression oh so fully. 

“It’s pretty easy to hide if you manage your blood levels.” Avid told him, which was true, the only reason they’d found out about Avid was because he’d told them and locked himself in a cell.

He supposed the information had technically been leaked to the vampires, but that didn’t really count.

Pyro nodded quietly, “What happens if I don’t.”

“Stage two is mostly a difference in eye color, but for me it makes my hair look ashier, so it depends.” He replied honestly, it was becoming progressively easily to talk to his not yet murderer.

“You tried to slay me.”

“You guys—”

“On that tree.”

“You guys, you wouldn’t.”

Squishy nudged Avid’s hand, snapping him out of the spiral before he went too deep. Avid cleared his throat, and scratched his loyal friend on the head. He’d gotten good at that after the first week of their shared solitude. Noticing when Avid went down into memories he tried to bury. The further down they were buried the further Avid had to fall.

Avid broke off from the group, gathering up the lumber he’d promised Drift. 

“Bork.”

“I don’t know, what do you suggest we do about it?”

“Bork.”

“Well killing Owen isn’t an option. Not yet, at least.”

The dog pouted, it felt normal in a way Avid wasn’t prone to miss. Much as he loved Squishy, his gratitude for real conversation outweighed it, greatly.

“Bork!”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s get back to town.”

Chapter Text

Avid blew out a breath, collapsing on a nearby bench, sitting for what felt like the first time that day. Not that he technically needed to, but sometimes human pleasures still felt nice. Squishy hopped onto the bench beside him, resting his head on Avid’s lap. For a wolf sized demon, he sure acted like a lap dog. Avid scratched behind his ears in the way he knew Squishy loved.

“House looks good.” Drift smiled fondly at Merp Manor.

Avid made a noise of agreement. It looked almost exactly as it had the first time it had been built. Only the second time he’d built it alongside Drift. But he knew the architecture of the wonderful building quite intimately from his years of solitude.

“Lopsided in the best way possible.” He grinned,

She punched him lightly in the shoulder, a teasing thing Avid hadn’t realized how much he’d missed. He could’ve cried right then and there, but that probably wouldn’t look great. The two joked back and forth for a time, some light jabs made at each other's expense that made Avid feel like he finally had his best friend back.

Pyro walked up almost shyly, “Uh.. did you want to…” He flushed, clearly embarrassed,

Avid smiled faintly, he got it, “Book run?”

Pyro nodded, still flushing, it felt almost backwards. It was backwards, in a way that felt almost like Deja vu, and maybe that’s why Avid was inclined to give him another chance. He reminded Avid quite clearly of himself, he realized with a small jolt.

“Hold down the fort till I get back?” He asked Drift.

She gave him a playful salute, before cleaning off her monocle, “Find me something good.”

He nodded, “I’ll bring you back a smite book or something.”

She laughed, it felt natural, like Avid hadn’t spent two hundred years alone. Like he was human again, no longer an elder vampire. He almost missed the blubbering mess he once had been. And wasn’t that just laughable. Missing the manic fool he’d been as a human, missing the man who had run from his sister’s body without a thought to bury her. 

He did wonder if someone ended up finding her body. Or if she was bitten by the same thing he’d been scratched by, perhaps she was in her own Limbo. Maybe she had her own version of Squishy.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t leave Oakhurst to look. Of all the places he could’ve spawned for a reset, of course it would be the cursed area that left him trapped. 

Squishy elected to stay and hang out with Drift, he’d taken a liking to their housemate. It was a nice surprise, that Squishy now trusted Pyro enough to leave Avid alone with him. Perhaps the wolf also saw that the man who had killed Avid was not the same man that had just been turned.

The two vampires walked into the forest as the sun began to set.

“What’s up, Pyro.” Avid smiled, trying to be warm, trying to remind himself how.

“I.. I wanted to ask a few questions about…” He trailed off, yup, definitely reminded Avid about a past version of himself.

“Vampirism? Or me?”

“Both, honestly.”

A scholar indeed, it simply made the man wish he’d paid Pyro greater attention before everything had gone downhill. Clear the mania from his own head and look at the people around him. Maybe then things could have ended differently. But it was no matter to look achingly on at the past, it would only drive him mad again.

“Ask and ye shall receive.” Avid shrugged,

“How old are you all, did you know Scott and Owen before?”

God immediately a difficult question. Did he answer yes and risk being seen as a madman again? Did he answer no and lie to a man that didn’t yet deserve it. The latter was a far better option, what Pyro didn’t know couldn’t harm him.

Until he inevitably found out, the truth had a habit of that.

“I’m a little over seven hundred, and no. I just missed Scott before he was put to sleep, and slept through Owen’s turning.” The lie didn’t burn, only hummed.

Smoldered perhaps, something that threatened to burn if it wasn’t tended to. Like a pyre that could easily race through the town that the townsfolk claimed to protect. Avid remembered a time when he was young, when he’d looked upon a pyre to see a man burning. And also remembered a time when a pyre was built for him.

Ironically, fire hadn’t been the thing to kill him, but Pyro had.

“Slept?”

“Right, you wouldn’t know. Vampires don’t age because we are effectively dead, called undead for a reason. So finding a coffin or somewhere to hide to sleep the years by isn’t uncommon. Scott was put to sleep by witches due to the townsfolk, Owen and I both chose to sleep through the years.”

“So how long did you sleep?”

“About five hundred years.”

“Do you remember it?”

Avid closed his eyes, those years were a blur of the darkness he’d allowed himself to succumb to. Only a vague number sat in his head, nothing else.

“No.” He answered honestly, “Likely for the best, I imagine it could’ve gotten boring.”

Pyro laughed at that. 

“You said a good friend of yours turned you?”

There it was, the question Avid was dreading. He didn’t want to answer, wanted to play it off. He didn’t want to think about how Shelby had just barely become a friend. Didn’t want to think about how human she still was. She wasn’t his sire, not yet, perhaps not ever, anymore. Seeing as Avid was still turned.

“That’s a very long and complicated story.” He responded in way of answer.

He wouldn’t elaborate further.

Chapter Text

Avid glanced up at the sun, it was beginning its descent, tonight was the night he knew Shelby had been turned. He was inclined to have it happen again, hopefully with the trauma of it all shoved to the side.

“Shelby.” Avid greeted, trying to tug on a facade of being excited, “I’ve found something supernatural.”

Scott was standing beside the woman. He understood immediately, looking quite happy at it, it seemed. Thank god, he didn’t want to be the one to turn Shelby. He.. he didn’t think he could quite stomach it, not when the woman had been his sire. Not when it already felt wrong to have her no longer be his sire in any manner.

Shelby’s eyes lit up immediately, “Let’s go!”

Avid smiled, the two following him easily. Squishy raced after them, running at Avid’s heels, the wolf had always enjoyed a good chase.

The sun had finished its set when they arrived at the river bed that Shelby had been turned on. She’d told him, after Avid had been turned, and had decided to side with them, about how she’d been turned. And where. She spoke of it somewhat fondly but clearly still somewhat shaken.

“You mentioned the supernatural?” Shelby’s eyes were still lit up in such a fashion that one could almost forget it was now the night.

Avid nodded, looking at Scott carefully, “Don’t freak out.”

“Too late.” Scott mused,

“Hey! I’m so calm!” Shelby swatted at him playfully,

Avid smiled at the exchange, he’d missed this. The easy energy the coven had held before everything had gone to hell. Before Avid had gotten overconfident and foolish. Before the staking, before his reset and solitude.

“I am a vampire.” He told her easily, 

“Be for real.” Shelby deadpanned.

He turned into a bat, watching her expression turn between disbelief and utter and complete joy, as he knew it would. Shelby had come looking for the supernatural, beyond that, she’d come to prove that humanity and creatures could get along. That they could be friends. And this proved just that.

“Oh my god! Avid, you’re a vampire!” Shelby squealed,

Avid snickered, “Keep it down, and it's not just me.” He turned back into his humanoid form, and nodded to Scott.

Shelby’s eyes didn’t dim in the slightest, it almost had the same effect as the sun at this point, “My roommates a vampire!”

Scott nodded, “Yes.”

“So are Pyro and Owen.” Avid revealed casually, he wasn’t concerned about Shelby running off to tell the town.

Not only would they not believe her, but Shelby wouldn’t do that. The town wasn’t to the point of accepting things weren’t normal yet, and without Avid’s mania, they had no reason to assume as much. Hence why it had been so damn easy to walk away with people and come back in the dead of night, and no one assumed anything.

He really was just now realizing how much trouble he’d caused the coven in the earlier parts of Oakhurst.

“Why are you telling me this?” Shelby asked quietly, her clever mind realizing the gravity of what Avid was trusting her with.

Scott answered for him, “We’d like to turn you.”

“But not unless you want it.” Avid rushed to fill in, ignoring the glance Scott sent his way.

“Me? You realize how long eternity is,” God did Avid ever, “And you’ll get sick of me, most people do.”

“We want to turn you.” Avid affirmed, “We aren’t gonna get sick of you, Shelbs.”

Scott nodded in silent agreement, he was still looking at Avid. He was piecing things together, Avid knew. And Avid also knew that he was far from acting normal, the solitude had grated heavily on him.

“If you're vampires, what is Squishy?” Shelby asked, pointing to the wolf who was currently chasing his own tail, “You said he’s been with you since you got here.”

“Demon.” Avid responded immediately.

She nodded, question answered. Shelby got a pensive expression in her face. She was weighing the pros and cons of saying yes or saying no to their offer. Avid felt something pull at his unbeating heart. Please say yes, he thought, swallowing roughly.

“I did it Shelby, I batted! It was amazing!”

“You were so against batting, like, five minutes ago.” She laughed,

“I know, but I did it, and it was exactly like you described!”

And then she nodded, and relief like Avid had never known crashed into him. Scott stepped forward, he had seniority, he had no need to ask Avid if he wanted to drink. Aside from that, Scott could clearly tell Avid wasn’t going to want to turn her.

“It hurts less if you don’t move.” Scott cautioned before sinking his fangs into his friend’s neck.

Chapter Text

They allowed Shelby to sleep through the transformation on the bay. There was no reason for people to assume anything was less than normal yet, they were safe, she was able to rest comfortably as her body adapted to the changes. Avid felt relief in his bones, her main problem with her turning had been that it had been by force. He’d been able to change something, been able to allow Shelby’s turning to be kinder. It was the least he could do for the woman that had saved him.

“Avid.” Scott spoke, pulling Avid out of his thoughts, “I need you to explain some things.”

“Like what.” Avid crossed his arms, meeting the elder’s eye.

It was odd, Avid decided, to be only a few hundred years younger than Scott. Scott who was over one thousand, who had flaunted his age because it had been something to be proud of. And now Avid was a little over seven hundred, it was nice to be older than Owen, but it was strange to be almost on the same level as Scott.

“Who is your sire?”

That question again, always that question, of course it had to be that question.

“I don’t see how that matters.”

“Have you none?”

“No.”

It was too complicated, he didn’t want Scott to look at him like he had at the start of the first Oakhurst. God, Avid couldn’t handle being treated like that, like he was insane. And he likely was, the solitude had done him no favors, but at least it wasn’t the mania that had gotten him ostracized almost immediately.

“You are an anomaly, Avid.” Scott said, his voice was calm, like they had all the time in the world, “Pyro also noted that you avoid any topic relating to before all of this began.”

Squishy let out a small growl, Avid set his hand on the wolf’s head, calming him. 

Liability 

Scott hadn’t said that, he wouldn’t say that, even if he’d done things the exact same. Scott would have never spoken of him like that, not like everyone else had. 

“As does Owen, what is your point?”

“Owen is clear about what his past entails, you are not.”

“Why does this matter?”

“I need to know if we can truly trust you.”

There it was. The thing Avid had been waiting for. The reason he’d stolen all of the holy water and ultimately decided to side alongside the vampires. Proof. Something that the vampire could give so damn easily. 

He just… He didn’t want Scott to think he was crazy. Shelby didn’t stir, it took a while, the transformation. Avid had passed out the second he’d gotten home after being turned.

He let out a sigh, sitting, and picking at the bandages around his hands, “My sire is here with us.” He said quietly.

Scott looked at him like he was insane, exactly what he’d feared, “What?”

“All of this, Scott? Everything that’s happening right now, I have already lived it.”

He didn’t respond, Avid knew what he was waiting for, the proof. The absolute concrete evidence that Avid wasn’t just crazy.

“I know all of you already, know that you were cursed. And before that, knew that your sire…” Avid trailed off, he didn’t need to cause him pain, “I know it sounds insane, I know it doesn’t make sense. But I was killed and appeared back in Oakhurst, alive, seven hundred years before this occurred. Shelby turned me because I begged her to, I was trying to escape from my own curse, and that’s the thing the dragged me back.”

“Is that why you immediately spoke ill of Owen?”

Avid closed his eyes, nodding. His own screams rang loudly in his ears, desperation. Wishing only to live, and he wasn’t granted it. Squishy rested his head in Avid’s lap, trying to soothe the spiral.

“Scott, I know it doesn’t make sense, but—”

“I believe you.”

Chapter Text

“You… Do?”

Scott nodded, adjusting Shelby who was still asleep in his lap, “I think it makes a good amount of sense. The way you expect every single conversation you participate in, you anticipate everything. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still weird, but I don’t think you're lying.”

Avid breathed a sigh of relief. Mania, panic, fear, all things that had overwhelmed every bit of sense the first time round. He never wanted to be perceived that way again, it left something curling in his gut, he hated it. Every second thinking about how he could go mad was another that fueled the anxiety. He likely had, back when things had gotten bad during the solitude. When silver tore away at his wrists repeatedly to keep vampirism from healing them. 

That was why bandages were tightly strewn around his arms. 

He didn’t want a reminder of the pain, the screaming, the desperation.

“So Shelby really is your sire?” 

Avid swallowed roughly, and he nodded. Looking at the sleeping fledgling with a look that simply could not be put to words. Grief perhaps, maybe longing, he’d never known, and will never know, what to call how he felt towards the woman that had been his sire.

“It’s a very long and complicated story.” Avid sighed, leaning against Squishy, who had moved to sit behind him.

A twig snapped, two people were at the edge of the treeline. Avid stood, blocking Shelby from view. He let out a slow breath.

“Pyro, Owen.” The second name was icily cold on his tongue.

The other two vampires looked between the other three.

Owen scoffed, “And you’re the one who said it didn’t make sense to turn people.”

Avid crossed his arms, standing level with the younger vampire, “We didn’t turn someone who could turn tail, run, and tell everyone. We offered the gift to Shelby, she accepted. Shouldn’t you of all people understand?”

The younger vampire growled, a low, guttural thing. Something that likely would’ve terrified Avid had he been the man he used to be. But that man was long dead, buried in a crypt, with a stake lodged into his chest.

His scar burned.

“Enough.” Scott hissed, “Owen, it would do you good not to question your elders.”

Avid smirked, stepping back, and turning to Pyro, “I assume you felt the new blood as she was turned?”

The other man nodded, somewhat paler. His eyes were tinged with red. Ah, he’d fed then, to the point of stage two no less. Yes, Pyro would have a much easier time hiding the change, as Scott had perfectly displayed the first time around, most people didn’t remember your eye color. Avid would have a far more difficult time, seeing as his “natural” eye color was far more prevalent. 

“It was somewhat overwhelming at first, Owen dragged me over here to look. Apparently you can sense where the new blood is?”

Avid nodded, confirming the fact as truth, “It gets easier as you get used to all of the details and abilities vampirism causes.”

Pyro nodded, looking over to the sleeping fledgling. Avid knew Pyro should’ve been given the same choice Shelby had, it wasn’t fair to him, that he’d been turned violently, and against the wishes of two elders. But Avid did feel himself growing fond of the other man's company, he was an intellectual, and curious. The elder was reminded of a younger version—a far more alive version—of himself.

Scott made eye contact with Avid, and he smiled, pressing one finger to his lips. Avid’s secret wasn’t going anywhere. The younger of the two elders smiled back, he’d known for a fact Scott wasn’t one to share secrets that weren’t his own. Not when they were so deep and still a cutting blade near one’s heart.

Shelby started to stir, her eyes glowing the same red hue everyone else’s did. A mark of a vampire, something one could only see if you were actively looking for it.

She grinned, new fangs catching in the blood lit night.

Chapter Text

Shelby adapted rather quickly to vampirism, far easier than Avid had. Though he assumed that could largely be due to the fact that he had not been able to sleep through the transition as she had. But she was ecstatic, more excited for this than he’d seen her in.. well, everyone knew the answer. The funny part of that was how no one—except, now Scott—actually did.

Avid was getting really tired of that. He was glad Scott had forced it out of him. He was really tired of being alone in it all.

Drowning as he’d tried to do years ago.

They walked back to the town, Pyro and Shelby chatted. Shelby was far more.. excitable than Pyro, but the scholar took it in stride. Avid could only imagine this was much what they were like the first time around.

Avid was the odd one out from the group that had been the original coven.

“Avid.” Scott spoke, meeting Avid’s gaze.

Ah, he was waiting for him to go up and walk with him. Avid could feel his face warm as he did it, he stomped on the emotion. It wouldn’t go anywhere, especially not now. Scott hadn’t reciprocated then, Avid couldn’t make him this time. He didn’t want him to. He didn’t want it to be forced. But, God, did Avid love the man beside him, and Scott only barely knew him.

It hurt, not unlike the burning of his scars, it hurt.

“What is it?” Avid tried to keep his tone light, pushing any trace of emotion down low.

He knew, logically, this action was exactly how Scott forgot to care in the first place. The funny thing was, Avid really didn’t care. Not now, not when no one knew him as well as he knew them.

But Scott knew.

And he couldn’t let himself hope that it would change things.

He wanted things to change, that was his goal, he didn’t want everyone to suffer as they had the first time. He’d failed with Pyro, but succeeded with Shelby. He was simply blindsided to pushing himself to a path that wouldn’t end with his own suffering.

Scott smiled, something that was almost bordering on real, “There is nothing I need, Avid.”

The younger of the two swallowed roughly, averting his eye, “I swear to god, if this is a ploy to get me to talk about my years, can it.”

Scott held up his hands, an action that displayed an untruthful attempt at peace.

Avid chuckled, “Thought you were the one who loathed when people lied.”

“When people lie to me, no matter when I do it.”

“Gaslighting, manipulator.” Avid agreed, looking straight ahead.

The elder frowned somewhat. Likely unnerved by Avid’s words. Not that the younger elder blamed him for it. This obscure situation that only Avid knew the truth of, though having someone who knew lightening his lot significantly. But hearing someone note things about you when you’d never displayed it directly to them, like they knew you better than you knew them, it was not a pleasant thing to think of.

Avid knew it well. And he tried to hold up his own load, bury it inside him until he could hardly remember. Tunnel into himself to avoid what used to be the bond he shared with his sire.

Avid sighed, “What do you want to know?”

The second time he’d left himself open to questioning. He was glad it Scott, this time.

“Your dislike of Owen, it has something to do with your death, correct?”

“Correct.” Avid confirmed, biting down on his tongue to keep from snapping. The taste of his own blood was soothing in the same way silver tearing at his wrists had been.

“The coven… They betrayed you?”

Scott valued loyalty above all else, it was part of what he liked so much about Shelby. The betrayal from the coven… Avid could only imagine how Scott had reacted when he’d found out the first time. If the first time had ever finished? Or maybe it was gone. But perhaps it was another timeline, one where it continued on in a world Avid could no longer be a part of.

He was dead, after all.

“I was new to the coven, and… Well it didn’t help that the first day I’d ran around town screaming about vampires.” He let out a self deprecating laugh, “But yes, Owen pulled the strings that got me killed.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” Scott looked back at the other members of their growing coven.

At Shelby, whom of which Avid could still not quite bear to look her in bright amber eyes directly. He let out a long sigh.

“Long and complicated.”

Chapter Text

Avid heard a bark, he sat up. Up to that point he’d been laying on his bed in Merp Manor staring at the ceiling. That chalked up to be because of the five hundred year sleep on top of having decent blood levels at the moment. He really did need to hunt again here soon. The bork sounded again. Bork, not a bark.

Squishy.

Avid rushed out of the house, it was still the dead of night, what was he alarmed about. It likely had nothing to do with the vampires, they hadn’t done anything, aside from Owen. But Squishy wouldn’t alert him if Owen was in danger, he only did that with people he knew Avid truly cared about. Owen was not one of those people. Perhaps Pyro had done something foolish now that he was level two, or someone had caught Scott for having near magenta eyes now that he was stage two as well.

“Abolish!” Avid snapped, blocking the man from his wolf companion.

That was not something he had expected. Avid had noted within his head that he’d need to keep an eye on Abolish with Squishy around, he hadn’t thought… Yet another thing to add to the list of things he should’ve known better of.

“Avid.” Abolish greeted stiffly, the burning smell of silver, and the waves of heat it gave off, licked at Avid’s vampiric sense.

He bit down the urge to bare his fangs, “Leave the dog alone.”

“That’s not a dog, Avid.”

“I am fully aware what he is, Squishy isn’t going to hurt anybody unless they hurt me first.”

Avid was bordering on letting too much slip, he knew that. But Squishy had been his only companion for seven hundred years, he would not allow Abolish to try anything. Abolish was dangerous, everyone had feared him by the end of Avid’s life. He had to do better, ensure Shelby wouldn’t be murdered in cold blood by him.

Abolish narrowed his eyes, and sighed, lowering the silver lantern, “You’re a vampire, aren’t you.”

Avid didn’t budge an inch, “That’s not exactly relevant to this conversation.”

“Heard that thing has been with you since you got to Oakhurst, I can tell you're not human, Avid. There is.. something off about you.”

He could almost laugh at that. That was likely either due to his being sent to his reset, or just the claiming of the demon in general. He’d known Abolish had likely sensed something about him back when Oakhurst had first started, over seven hundred years ago. Had doubly known that he would know something was off about him when they first met this time around. Abolish was well trained in his shadow organization.. thing, he knew when something wasn’t human.

Avid couldn’t bring himself to trust, not anymore.

“Yes, I am a vampire.” He found himself replying regardless.

Avid knew from experience that people weren’t likely to believe him. That, and, Abolish did not seem like the kind of man prone to rushing around yelling of the dangers of vampirism, as Avid once had.

“And you know that thing is likely a demon?” 

“Yes.” Avid repeated, “He’s not hurt anybody, again, he won’t unless provoked.”

“You’re claimed? That’s a servant.”

Avid swallowed roughly, and nodded, “Unfortunetly, but they seem prone to keeping me alive. Hence, Squishy.”

He bit his tongue, internally refusing to answer any other questions the man may have.

Abolish pinched the bridge of his nose, “I won’t even bother asking who the others are.”

“Good, you wouldn’t get an answer.”

“That I know.”

A shadow organization that helped good vampires and handled bad ones. That was what had been relayed to the vampires, though Avid hadn’t been fully… Mindful at the time. Drunk on the power and freedom vampirism had given him. He’d had plenty of time to think about it. 

God, he really needed to get a handle on Owen, and soon. Scott would likely assist once he was made aware of Abolish’s knowledge. Fuck.

The other man nodded, “Alright, I won’t touch him, but be mindful, Avid. I’ll be watching.”

“I expect nothing less.”

Chapter Text

“We might have a problem.” Avid noted, leaning against the ruins of the castle.

Scott had wanted to see if it would be worth rebuilding, Avid had tagged along for this exact reason. That, and, he desperately needed the comfort that came with the castle back. Squishy was laying down on the wood nearby to Avid, he hadn’t been willing to leave his side since the other night. Understandable, the elder vampire felt similar anxieties, but did his best to ignore them. As he did most things. But he also knew Abolish was keeping tabs on him now, that would either cause issues, or be an absolute relief when town inevitably found out about vampirism.

“What?” Scott asked, turning away from the holy beacon that sat there.

Avid wished it were a dark crimson red surrounded by cold yet warm black walls.

“I may, or may not, have had a lovely discussion with Abolish.”

“Avid,”

“In my defense, he already knew vampirism was a thing. He just.. also… Happens to know about me.. now.”

“Avid, why?”

“He threatened the dog, Scott!”

“The dog!?”

Avid ran a hand through his hair, stepping closer to the mahogany pedestal. Scott had been quite miffed when Martyn had set it ablaze. Could he fix that? He needed to keep Shelby from being burned alive that same day, keep her just on the outside of the walls, perhaps. He didn’t want her to suffer like that again.

“He doesn’t know about the others, just me, only me.” Avid turned back to the other elder.

Scott was studying him carefully, a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. It didn’t help that there were several pieces Avid intentionally hid from the box. But knowing about Avid’s situation could help him if he allowed it.

“Did this happen last time?”

“I wasn’t a vampire at the start, last time.” Avid muttered, “So no.”

The older of the two pinched the bridge of his nose, “What do you know about him?”

Avid shrugged, “Works for a shadow organization thing, he’s dangerous, but not if you’re ’good.’”

“This is such a mess.”

“Could be worse.”

The statement was serious, it could be so much worse. Pyro could’ve been mentally tortured, Shelby could’ve been turned against her will, people would’ve suggested believing in vampires for forty eight hours only to find just how real the threat was, Avid could’ve been dying, Scott could’ve been far more distant. There were so many things that had gone better, and there were still so many things to fix.

So many things Avid had already failed at fixing.

Scott took the statement seriously as well, noting the gravity of the truth of what Avid had said. Scott knowing about his situation had solved so many things for the younger elder, not having the need to hide the truth from Scott was relieving. 

Most of it, anyway.

“Well.. could’ve been worse timing. At least we were starting to plan on moving out.”

Avid nodded, “Yeah.”

“I’m going to the crypt.” Scott said, “You’re welcome to follow.”

“I… I’ll stand watch.” Avid choked on his words.

Chapter Text

The crypt reeked of death, though Avid’s knew he was the only one it was bothering. Seven hundred years and Avid still could barely bear to be near the place. His own screams echoed loudly in his ears. Pyro’s cruel pleasure, Owen’s same hatred mixed with joy that the "Liability" was dying. He swallowed the illusion of bile in his throat.

“Avid, hey!” Pyro grinned, running at a quickened pace at the sight of his friend (?). “Are you turning the beacon?”

“Scott is.” Avid replied, trying desperately to keep his composure, to stuff the unpleasantness down deep where he wouldn’t yet have to deal with it.

Pyro nodded, peering around the elder to see within the crypt. Avid did not move, he did not want to look in the direction of the place he had died screaming within. Seven hundred years since that day, he was still just as weak. 

The fledgling nodded, “I was gonna start on the castle with Shelby, I think Owen’s headed this way.”

“Good.” Avid nodded, swallowing roughly again.

This Pyro wasn’t the Pyro that had smiled as Avid struggled, pled for his life. This Pyro wasn’t the type to do that. This Pyro wasn’t inflicted with a similar mania Avid had once held. Pyro was no longer the monster he would’ve become, Avid had made sure of that. The scholar—the eldest fledgling—would never know the monster he could be, Avid was glad for it. In stark contrast was Owen, fueled only by his rage and wish to avenge his sire. The puppeteer of the strings tied to Avid’s death. A harsh reminder of the pain he’d felt that moment, the pain that still held phantom weight when he’d arrived seven hundred years in the past.

He’d had plenty of time to think about it.

The fledgling smiled, shifting into a bat as to get to the castle quicker. Avid assumed Scott had given him something like directions through the bond, a bond Avid felt, but it was dulled and confusing. Best not to rely on it, he’d ultimately decided.

The beacon turned neutral, a ringing in everyone’s ears, Avid knew. Those things really did take ages to turn, he’d somehow forgotten. 

Avid grappled with his memories, trying to remember what had happened at this time. He knew something did, knew it wasn’t good. It struck him just as they and Owen arrived. Apo’s turning.

Shit.

“Y- you’re— What— you—”

“Really, Owen.” Avid muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“This is not my fault, she dragged me out here herself.” Owen retorted.

“Apo..” Avid held up his hands, “We’re not—”

“Vampires!”

“My dear god!” Avid rushed to dodge her axe, “Is this really how I used to act?” He muttered under his breath.

“Apo, calm down, we’re not- Holy shit! Calm down! We’re not harming anyone!”

“You took the beacon.” Apo hissed, her axe acting like a metal pole between her and what she deemed a threat.

“Thanks, Owen.” Avid deadpanned.

Owen’s eye twitched, “Not my fault.”

The axe whirled around to be level with Owen, “Y- you, you too!?”

“Apo.” Avid said, a hand on her shoulder, “Just.. hear us out for a sec.”

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.

Chapter Text

The process of building the castle was something Avid had not been a part of the first time around. Aside from the bedrooms in the crypt—which Shelby had already started on—Avid did not have a hand in the construction of the castle. It was a nice change of pace, a project he’d put off doing for seven hundred years, now. Though it often didn’t feel like any time had passed at all, he looked around, and prayed to any god that may exist that he’d get to keep it this time.

He didn’t think he could handle doing all of that again. The one reason a stake had never been used in his self destruction was Scott, knowing that he was alive—just simply asleep—had kept him from ending it.

Though he’d gotten close to forgoing that many times before he gave up on waiting. 

Squishy raced around the ruins, Shelby was playing fetch with him, or something like that. Avid smiled, watching it all play out as he helped Pyro lay the deepslate for the main hall.

“Hope Truffle’s okay.” Pyro murmured,

“I’m sure Apo’s taking good care of her.” Avid offered, smiling faintly.

“I don’t doubt that.” Pyro returned the fond smile.

Owen and Scott were desecrating the beacon. Avid felt too at ease, like something was going to go wrong because his guard had dropped. Maybe it was just leftover feelings he’d sensed from Apo when he’d enthralled her, but he didn’t trust this calm before a likely storm. It was nearing a month since the beginning of Oakhurst, they were on borrowed time from the fact that there was no mania filled Avid to warn the town.

Abolish would keep quiet, Apo had been asked to. He knew they would, so why was he so concerned?

“Get away from the beacon!” Shouted Martyn.

Two beacons turned, no longer a coincidence, Martyn had acted brashly the first time, anyway. 

Squishy stopped playing, lowering to a hunters crouch, a low growl escaping from his muzzle. Cleo watched the dog, her sword held high. Drift was with them, why was Drift with them, she hadn’t been the first time. 

Avid dropped down, hands up, similar to how he’d handled Apo, “We don’t want any trouble.”

“Then why are you messing with the beacon!” Martyn snapped, he was coming in swinging.

“We’re not the ones attacking on sight.” Scott’s voice filled his head, not through a coven bond, just the past.

Avid looked around the blond haired man. Drift was hiding behind her shield, the bravest woman Avid had ever known, and she didn’t know it yet. Avid bit his tongue sharply.

“This is my castle therefore this is my beacon.” Scott hissed, stepping beside Avid.

Owen was in a hunting position not dissimilar to Squishy.

“We haven’t done anything.” Avid told them truthfully.

“Liars!” Martyn yelled,

God, had Avid been this bad? He must have been, this was insufferable, how had Drift managed him. How had anyone in Oakhurst, he didn’t blame Scott for taking pleasure in tormenting him. This was just miserable for everyone involved, and Martyn was barely scratching the surface of what Avid’s mania had held.

“Listen—” Lantern Thrash, fire licked at Scott’s beloved mahogany.

Shelby, Shelby had been burned alive last time. Where was she? Where was she!? She was behind Drift, talking fast, gesturing wildly. The detective seemed to be hearing her out. Cleo was going up on them.

Avid sprinted, ignoring the pain from the burns the fire had caused, he rushed to the his friends’ sides.

“Cleo, listen, we haven’t done anything worth an attack. You know the rules, why attack without cause. This is our claimed territory.” Avid spoke, his voice low, quiet and powerful enough to speak only to the farmer, “Please, get Martyn to stop attacking.”

Cleo’s eyes narrowed, distrust lined their expression, “Pyro and Shelby have been turned.”

“Pyro’s turning was insolence and the act of a younger going against orders. Shelby was given a choice, she accepted.” His voice was able to be heard by the others now.

It was very clear that they didn’t trust him. But Cleo was one who understood the rules, followed them without fault, the vampires had not attacked, simply laid claim. They knew that, and if all went well, they would get Martyn to stop. The blond haired man in question was swinging a sword foolishly between Owen and Scott, Squishy nipping at his heels.

Okay, maybe Martyn was worse than he had been. At least Avid had known how to correctly use a sword. 

The fight stopped as the farmer placed a hand on the shoulder of the man, “Stop.” They ordered, “They haven’t attacked us, yet, we’ll reconvene at the town.”

Drift left with them. 

Avid collapsed with relief, hysterical laughs escaping from his throat. He’d managed to do some good, the fight had been stopped, Shelby hadn’t been burned. No one that mattered had gotten hurt.

Avid’s burns prickled.

Chapter Text

Scott was used to things that weren’t normal. He was a vampire for God’s sake, the supernatural was just second nature at this point. But since waking up from the cursed slumber, Scott was… Intrigued. A girl with red hair who talked about a man with big feet, a quiet detective, a wolf that very clearly wasn’t just a wolf, and then… The other elder.

A man named Avid Craft, he’d said. The wolf—Squishy, he called it—was his companion. 

And Scott knew that Avid was another elder, the sense of a fellow rang loudly in his ears but Avid didn’t make sense. He anticipated everything, knew where everyone was, knew what everyone would say.

And Scott was intrigued.

Because his fellow elder had already lived the events that were occurring. Scott believed him, if nothing else for the confirmation that Scott wasn’t going crazy, himself. Odd memories that were fuzzy sat in his head, why did he care about Drift? He hardly knew her. Why was he so attached to Shelby the second he saw her? Why was there something like emotion every single time Avid held his gaze for a few seconds longer.

Scott was ancient, he didn’t feel, he hadn’t had feelings in centuries. But this man, Avid Craft, was doing things to him. And Scott… Didn’t know how to feel about it.

The castle had gotten attacked and somehow Avid had known Cleo would listen. It only made Scott wonder what Cleo had done the first time the other elder had lived. Martyn was brash, foolish, and came in swinging. But it felt familiar to Scott and he genuinely didn’t know why.

Someone screaming about vampires on the first day, but no one had known—except apparently Abolish and Cleo—that vampires even existed when the town had gathered for the first time. 

Owen was a fool, going against the wishes of not just one but two elders was a death wish. He was simply lucky Scott was preoccupied.

Scott allowed himself to gorge on the blood, no point in trying to hide in town anymore. Stage three always just suited him better, after all. he found his old cloak, mercifully still in perfect condition.

“Looks good.” Avid’s voice noted, he was smiling, something like pain in his eyes.

This wasn’t the first time he’d seen Scott like this. What had happened the first time through? Scott knew some but not the specifics, knew Avid had been betrayed by the coven, that Owen was somehow involved. Knew it likely occurred at the crypt because Avid couldn’t bear to even look at the place.

“Thank you.” Scott grinned, drawing out the end of the final word of the sentence. 

Avid blushed lightly, he was at stage two, his mulberry eyes blending lightly—very lightly—into a faint red. His hair was a little ashier, he’d swapped his gray vest for one that had a slight purple tint to it, though it was largely the same color, Scott knew better. Avid Craft fidgeted with the blood red cravat, looking around the catacombs quietly.

What about the catacombs set the man off?

“You look good as well, cute.” Scott remarked honestly, clipping earrings into his now much more pronounced pointed ears.

Avid blushed again, shrugging, playing it off easily, “It’s no Scott Goldsmith, but it’ll do.” Came his easy reply.

“Not stage three?” The elder of the two pointed out.

Pain, grief, but oh so much pain hit Avid’s expression. Scott watched the other man run through so many different emotions.

Almost choked, Avid responded, “Have no need of it, right now.”

“That’s a different vest.” Scott changed the topic.

“Damn holy water singed my other one.” Avid muttered, walking a little closer to the center tomb, where Scott was standing.

Avid’s hand reached to fidget with his own earring, a simple blood red gem in the shape of a diamond. Not dissimilar to what was inlaid into the gold of Scott’s own.

All the more added mystery to the enigma that was Avid Craft.