Chapter Text
—Cleo—
Cleo rapped their knuckles on the stone pillar of the Obelisk before stepping up onto the beacon platform. As she’d guessed, there was Pyro, scuttling back, claws at the ready, as he moved to put the beacon between them.
“Relax,” she said, holding up her hands in a gesture of surrender. “I'm here to help. Thought I ought to repay you for this.” They gestured to their shawl and to the scars it hid on their chest and neck.
Pyro eyed them warily, but returned to kneeling by the beacon. “What's your game?” he asked. “You're one of us now, but you returned to town.”
“You spent plenty of time in town at first,” Cleo countered, taking a seat on the other side of the beacon. Once they were seated, Cleo caught sight of a flash red and white near the tree line on the shore of the lake, just in time to see Scott leave the two of them and head back into the woods. “I've got people I care about there, why wouldn't I go back?”
Pyro looked away, picking at something on their hand that Cleo couldn't see in the shadow cast by the beacon.
Cleo leaned on the beacon to get a better angle to see his face. “...penny for your thoughts?”
“...has Sire spoken with you?” Pyro said quietly. “He wanted to.”
“He did,” Cleo said. “He's just headed back into the forest, so I doubt he’ll be joining us. Has he been this…I don't know, encouraging to the newly turned from the start? That didn't seem like the same Scott who wore a skull to terrorize Avid.”
“Avid is a menace,” Pyro growled, not answering the question. “He’s been lashing out at shadows and crying vampires since before they’d even done anything.”
“They?” Cleo asked. “Not we?”
Pyro fell silent.
“Did you...know Avid was right, from the start?” Cleo asked carefully. “About vampires?”
“No,” Pyro said quietly, staring down at the lake. “No, I didn't.”
“And how long have you known?” Cleo asked.
Pyro shrugged, which almost hid the way he curled in on himself when asked. “Maybe...my second or third night in town? It's...hard to remember.” Cleo could smell raw, tainted flesh, and a faint acrid burning, and realized whatever was going on with his hand, he seemed to have reopened an injury.
“Whatever you're picking at, it's not going to heal if you don't leave it alone,” she chided. For a brief moment, they were annoyed that they'd been turned by someone who had been a vampire less than a month, but they couldn't hold that against him. The Code never would have allowed someone like them to be turned, but it would have barred them from saving her life too. She had barely felt it, which would have taken a great deal of restraint, given the state of Pyro's teeth. He’d certainly become more monstrous at full strength, but more than just his fangs had to have already been sharp from the look of the scar.
“I don't know if it will either way,” Pyro grumbled, lifting his hand to look at it. This time, Cleo could see the seemingly charred stump of his missing pinky finger. “I think there are still a few flecks of silver stuck in it.”
“What happened there?” Cleo asked.
“...I stupidly thought I could keep a silver ring,” Pyro said, pulling his sleeve over the injury to hide it. “It wasn't anything special, I just liked to twist it when I was thinking. Couldn't get it off fast enough after I turned Shelby, and it exploded and took my finger with it. I suppose that's what being sentimental gets you.”
“And you're just...leaving it like that?” Cleo asked, half laughing at the absurdity of it.
“It's not like I have much choice,” Pyro said, bristling at their tone. “Do Scott, Shelby, and Owen look like doctors to you?” As soon as they said it, they faltered, looking over their shoulder.
“If anyone was watching, don't you think they'd come help?” Cleo asked.
“I-it could be a test,” Pyro stammered, gripping the surface of the beacon as he continued to scan their surroundings for any sign of others.
“A test of what?” Cleo asked.
“My loyalty,” Pyro said. “Our loyalty. They're…we're not sure what to make of you, and I–”
“Your loyalty is still in question?” Cleo interrupted. “You, Scott's lap dog?”
“I am no one's dog!” Pyro snarled. He blinked, surprised at his own outburst. “I'm sorry, I don't know what…”
“Ah, there's my temper,” Cleo chuckled. “Sorry for that.”
“Your temper?” Pyro asked, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“You're joking,” Cleo said flatly. “You've turned two people, and Goldsmith never explained the exchange to you?”
“I wasn't meant to turn Shelby,” Pyro said, rubbing their missing finger nervously. “He didn't need to explain it, I wasn't meant to-”
“Don't defend–” Cleo started. She cut herself off and took a deep breath. “Sorry. Sorry.” They let the subject drop, waiting for Pyro to choose how he wanted to continue.
“...so I have your temper now?” Pyro asked.
“Seems that way,” Cleo said. “That makes anger my most dominant trait, which is…interesting.”
“I asked him after Shelby,” Pyro huffed. “He said that was just me.”
“And he's let you wander around with silver shrapnel in your hand, in a wound that won't heal,” Cleo said, gesturing to his hand.
“He doesn't know about my hand,” Pyro mumbled. “None of them do.”
“What, your finger was blown clean off in front of him, and he just didn't notice?” Cleo said, incredulous. When he didn't respond, she realized she was right. “Oh.”
“He was…busy telling me off for stealing Shelby,” Pyro said. “And then with all the beacons turned, we had to divide and conquer, or we wouldn't have made it through the night.”
“The beacons?” Cleo asked.
“Yeah,” Pyro said. “The moment they were all holy, it felt…” they shuddered. “It felt like I was dying all over again.”
Cleo took a moment to consider that, drumming their fingers on the beacon.
“...Sire isn't the one who told you about this…exchange thing, is he?” Pyro asked. “You knew things before you were one of us.”
Cleo nodded. “…yeah I was…raised around this sort of thing,” she said evasively.
“You played that close to your chest,” Pyro said. “Smart.”
Cleo shrugged. “I saw how the townsfolk responded to Avid, I wasn't about to let them think the same of me.”
Pyro sighed, staring down at the water. “I doubt knowing would have saved me. I think I still would have trusted them.”
Before Cleo could respond, the beacon finished desecrating, and Pyro stood, more than ready to leave.
“Wait,” Cleo said, reaching for Pyro's wrist. They stopped themself just in time, but he still flinched at the sudden movement. She held up her hands placatingly. "Sorry."
“I...should get back,” Pyro said, glancing toward the castle.
“Come back with me,” Cleo said, gesturing toward town. “You can tell your sire you were trying to bring me into the fold, and the doc can take a look at your hand.”
“I can't lie to him,” Pyro said, panicked.
“Then I'll make a deal with you,” Cleo said. “Come with me into town, and I'll come back to the castle with you. You won't have to lie, and you won't be alone.”
“I…” they looked at their mangled hand. “…alright.”
-------
The more Cleo watched, the more skittish Pyro seemed. Every snapped twig or rustle in the bushes had them readying their claws and looking over their shoulder. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it before - or maybe she’d just chalked it up to aggression.
“We’ll have to hop the wall, the humans will have lined the gates with silver by now,” she said. He jumped at her voice, but she wouldn't have caught it if she wasn't already watching.
“Shouldn't be a problem,” he said, hands in his pockets, pretending to be calm.
“Stay close, and I can keep the militia boys off you if they're out and about,” Cleo said, as they started climbing the rough timber. Pyro leapt to the top of the wall and offered his good hand to pull her up. They took it, and he hauled them up to the top, before hopping down. She hopped down after, smoothed out her skirts and started off toward the doctor’s house. She didn't have to look back to know Pyro followed closely, tension radiating off of them as they passed assorted fortifications.
“Bit late to be making house calls,” Abolish said, from his perch on the watch tower. He didn't bother to raise his voice enough that a human would be able to hear.
“It’s not a social visit, this one's got something the Doc will need to look at. You can supervise, if you're worried,” Cleo called up to him.
“Not worried, exactly,” Abolish said, climbing to his feet. “But I can wake him up for you if he doesn't answer when you knock.”
“That's much appreciated,” Cleo called back. They continued on as Abolish started down the stairs from the tower.
“He's…helping?” Pyro asked.
“Probably,” Cleo said with a shrug.
“…why?”
Cleo turned to face him. He seemed genuinely, earnestly confused.
“I imagine because he’s a friend of the doctor, and the doctor will want to help you,” she said.
Pyro scoffed and looked away.
“Why did you agree to come here if you didn't think anyone would help?” Cleo asked.
“So you’d see why I…nevermind,” he said. He was picking at the wound again.
Cleo sighed and grabbed his wrist to lead him the rest of the way. At least that might keep him from digging the hole in his hand deeper. They knocked on the door, and waited for a response. Both vampires could hear the doctor stir slightly, but not wake.
“Guess it's a good thing Abolish is on his way,” Cleo said, leaning against the wall.
“I suppose it is,” Pyro said, pensive. He watched Abolish approach, holding his injured hand, but at least not picking at it.
“Guessing you needed me after all,” Abolish said when he got close.
“Better that than bang on the door and wake the whole town,” Cleo said.
“True,” Abolish said, pushing open the door.
A few minutes later, a very tired Doctor Legundo approached the door, rubbing his face as he grumbled “You know you have an open invitation, Cleo, you could have just-”
He froze when he noticed Pyro.
“I should go,” Pyro said, almost reflexively, already backing away.
“He's not going to hurt you,” Cleo said, putting a hand on Pyro's back to keep him from bolting. “Just let him take a look at your hand.”
“Your hand?” the doctor asked, straightening up.
Pyro glanced at Cleo, before pulling his sleeve down to show the wound.
“He had a silver ring,” Cleo explained. “Says it's been like this for a while now, and he thinks there are pieces still in his hand.”
“Come in, I’ll see what I can do,” Legs said, stepping out of the doorway.
Pyro hesitated, but let themself be led inside. Cleo guided him to a chair by the fireplace, and nudged him to take a seat. He took off his coat and hung it over the back of the chair before sitting. The blood stains on his shirt were much more obvious without the coat over it, and he struggled to look at them.
It was hard to believe this was the same person who’d been the castle vampires’ attack dog. Seeing them, curled in on themself, jumping at shadows…it was like learning the billowing smoke on the horizon came from a guttering torch, moments from being snuffed out, and not a forest fire. Perhaps, with a little tending, that fire could be corralled to the hearth and become something more than a force of destruction.
—Pyro—
Legs took a seat across from Pyro and held out a hand, waiting patiently. Pyro hesitated, but nodded and rolled up their sleeve to keep it out of the way. It hid the blood stain, but revealed the ragged scar of a torn bite mark on his wrist. They gave Legs their hand, and looked away, turning their focus to searching for escape routes.
“I have a few questions, if you don't mind,” Legs said, inspecting the wound.
“I’m not spilling any of the castle’s secrets, if that's what you're asking,” Pyro said, bristling.
“No, I wouldn't ask that of you,” Legs said quickly. “Just questions that might help me treat you. The black on your fingers, does it hurt all of them, or just the missing one? Or is it related to the burns on your face?”
“No, the black doesn't hurt, it's just…what I look like now. My fingertips were sore when the claws first grew in, but they're alright now,” Pyro answered. “The burns are healing alright on their own as long as I stay away from holy water. Just worry about the missing finger, and the one next to it.” Legs nodded and prodded at the intact finger. Pyro winced, and Legs waited to make sure they were alright.
“It's fine, go ahead,” Pyro said quickly. “Better to get it over with.”
Legs frowned. “Are you sure? We can try to dull the pain first.”
“I doubt you have anything that would work without a beating heart,” Pyro said.
“Cold water could –”
“No,” Pyro cut him off a little too quickly, recoiling at the suggestion. He shrank back at the stares that got him. “No, it's…I’ll be fine.” They reluctantly gave Legs their hand back.
Legs was more careful inspecting the wound. “There's definitely something in there, in a few different places. I should be able to remove it, but it won't be pleasant.”
“It's not pleasant now,” Pyro snapped. “I wouldn't be here if it–” he cut himself off and took a moment to calm down. “Apologies. I…know you're trying to help.” They weren't entirely convinced of what they were saying, but they knew it would placate the doctor.
“So about the ring,” Abolish said, moving the lantern closer to give Legs better lighting. “Is there a reason you kept it on?”
Pyro didn't answer at first, eyes flitting between the faces of the others in the room.
“No, it was just…comforting,” Pyro said. “It was stupid.”
“I don't think it's stupid,” Abolish said.
Pyro looked up, surprised. He hardly noticed when the doctor cut into his finger and popped out a tiny piece of silver – the distraction likely intentional on Abolish’s part, they realized. The incision healed over almost instantly without the silver hindering it's progress, courtesy of the blood moon hanging over the town.
“No, it was, I knew better,” Pyro said, letting themself be distracted. “It was just…a lot all at once, and I wasn't thinking clearly.”
“You're new to this,” Abolish observed.
“…yeah,” Pyro said, reluctant to follow that train of reasoning, but more willing to open up than he had been.
“From the sound of it, nobody's taught him anything willingly,” Cleo scoffed.
“No they did, they’ve taught me,” Pyro said quickly. He flinched and pulled away as another piece of silver snagged on it's way out. Legs took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, his patience clearly being tested. This time, when Legs held his hand out again, Pyro gave him back the injured hand immediately.
“Of course,” Cleo said. “Except the parts Scott lied to you about.”
Pyro stared down at the floor and gripped the edge of their chair hard enough to make the wood creak.
“I can't…I can't think like that,” Pyro admitted quietly. “They can’t think I have doubts. Not when the castle is the only place I can safely return to.”
The others were quiet for a long moment. It wasn't as if he was wrong, he couldn't expect a warm welcome from the other humans.
“Do you have doubts?” Legs asked, sounding hopeful. Pyro glanced at the window again.
There was a soft click as Abolish set the lantern down and crossed to the window. He met Pyro's eyes, and Pyro could feel the way he studied them. He then closed the shutters and tied them shut with his silver pocket watch. Pyro relaxed in spite of themself, and Abolish nodded before returning to their side.
“You have two bite marks, one on your arm, one on your neck. They line up with the blood stains on your shirt,” Abolish said quietly, picking the lantern back up. “The one on your neck, could plausibly have been willing, but the one on your arm looks like you struggled.” Pyro tensed and nodded nervously. “What happened?”
Pyro was quiet for a long moment, assessing the situation. They felt like a moth pinned in a shadowbox, their gruesome fate laid bare and on display, but…everyone remained still and quiet, waiting to see if he would answer.
“I don't…I don't remember it well,” he admitted, barely loud enough for the humans to hear. “I remember…they asked me to step away, and they were talking at the beacon, but what they were saying didn't make sense, so I thought…I thought I misheard. Scott said he had first dibs, and I thought he meant the beacon, which…didn't make sense either, but…”
“He meant you,” Cleo said solemnly.
Pyro nodded and took a shaky breath before continuing. “Owen said he was hungry, and Scott…Scott told him he could have a taste, and…I didn't know what was happening, I panicked, and…” he gestured to his wrist. “I tore my arm open trying to get away from Owen. It gets…fuzzy from there, but…I think…I’m told I tried to run, and Scott…I couldn't outrun him, not through the water. I have…faint memories of starting to drown, pinned to the lakebed, and waking up on the shore, but nothing clear until a few days later.”
“That’s…horrific,” Legs said, frozen.
Pyro pulled away from the doctor and looked down at their hands in their lap. He…hadn't anticipated how much hurt it would dredge up to have someone admit that what happened to him was as bad as it felt.
“Not much to be done for it now,” they said with a halfhearted shrug. “I…try my best not to think about it. Owen did warn me not to make it difficult, after all.”
“Excuse me, he what?” Cleo asked. Pyro jumped, surprised by the fury in their voice. “God, when I catch him –”
“No, don't,” Pyro said, panicked. Had to keep his fledgeling safe, had to keep the elder vampires calm, don't rock the boat, don’t make things difficult… “They were hungry, you know what that's like now.” Abolish shot Cleo a look, but Pyro didn't have time to guess what it could be about. “They’d both been starving for hundreds of years.”
“Have they been better since?” Abolish asked.
Pyro fidgeted. “They've…been good to Shelby. And I see Scott's started checking in on the newer fledgelings…so I guess it's just me,” their voice grew more unsteady as they spoke. “It's always been me, I just…have that effect on people, it's nothing new.”
“It isn't your fault,” Cleo said, their voice uncharacteristically gentle. “You know that, right?”
Pyro was quiet. Legs held out a hand again, and Pyro obediently handed over their injury.
“If I told you we were researching a cure for vampirism, would you want to know what we learn?” Legs asked, distracting Pyro from his work again.
“I’d say that's not a funny joke,” Pyro said with a hollow laugh, their voice still brittle.
“It's not a joke,” Abolish said.
“You're…there might be a cure?” Pyro asked, looking back and forth between the others in the room.
“We’re working on it,” Legs said. “I can't make any promises yet, but if you want to know –”
“Yes,” Pyro said quickly. “I want to know.”
Legs couldn’t help but smile at their enthusiasm.
“Don't get too far ahead of yourself, the one scrap of information we have on it so far says Scott would need to die to cure you,” Abolish said.
“…oh,” Pyro said, crestfallen.
“We’re still looking for another way,” Legs reassured him. “But…if it had to be you or him…”
Pyro was quiet, thinking about it for a long moment.
“A week ago, maybe…maybe it would be easier, but…” Pyro said. “He's changed. Something changed him, after…” he paused, realization dawning on him. “Not something, someone. Whatever he got from–” he bit his tongue, barely managing to stop himself from outing Apo.
“Oh,” Cleo said.
“Cleo, he asked me to turn you to save you, he was horrified when his axe actually made contact, he wouldn't have cared a week ago,” Pyro explained.
Cleo started to laugh.
“I’m…sorry, I don't follow,” Legs said, looking back and forth between Cleo and Pyro.
“Vampires take on dominant personality traits from those they turn,” Abolish said. Pyro and Legs both gave Abolish a funny look, unsure why he would know that.
“I got…I don't know, curiousity I think, from Shelby, but I was already curious, so it didn't change much, just made me more open to believing in cryptids and the like, in the way Shelby is,” Pyro explained, gesturing excitedly with his free hand. “But I got Cleo’s temper, and I thought I was just cracking under pressure, it isn't like me to snap at people – not the way I have been. Turning someone who's not like you can change you drastically, and I think…someone may have changed Scott for the better.”
“They're going to love this,” Cleo said, nearly in tears from laughter. “That's incredible, they broke Scott fucking Goldsmith.”
“No, no, they fixed him,” Pyro said with a grin. Legs flinched when he caught sight of Pyro's teeth, but it didn't bother Pyro as much as they might have expected it to. “He can't do what he did to me, or…your friend to anyone else if he cares now. That's…almost as good as a cure,” He paused, staring at his claws. “Almost.”
“We’ll keep looking for another way,” Legs reassured Pyro. “For now, do you think you can handle trying to remove more of the silver, or should we come back to this another day?”
“…another day, I think,” Pyro said. “Maybe then I can try the cold water. I can't promise I’ll be able to stand it, but I’ll try.”
“Hopefully, it will help,” Legs said.
“Doc, any chance I can talk to you alone once you're done with him?” Cleo asked.
“If it's just bandaging them up, I can handle that,” Abolish offered.
“Is that alright with you?” Legs asked Pyro.
It took Pyro a second to realize he was being asked for permission. They nodded, and Legs traded places with Abolish and followed Cleo into another room.
“Everyone here would choose you over Scott, in case you were wondering,” Abolish said, carefully cleaning the wound. “Sure you haven't been perfect, but you're better than that.”
“I’m not sure I am, but…thank you,” Pyro said. That little flutter of hope that had convinced him to follow Cleo into town was back, and it was getting harder to keep it caged.
“You have a lot of bark, but I’ve given you plenty of chances to bite, and you didn't take them,” Abolish said, packing gauze around the wound. “Hold that for me?”
“Sure,” Pyro said, holding the gauze in place while Abolish grabbed the bandages. “What do you mean you gave me chances?”
Abolish pulled a withered rose out of his pocket and gave them a pointed look.
“Oh,” Pyro said. “Right.”
“You had plenty of opportunity to strike,” he said, setting the flower down so he could properly wrap the bandages. “You wouldn't be here if you had. Either you’d be dead, or I wouldn't have let you near the doctor.”
“You kept one of the roses?” Pyro asked, tilting his head to get a better look at Abolish's face. He had always been frustratingly difficult to read, but…was he blushing?
Abolish didn't respond to the question, focused on wrapping the bandages. “Move your fingers for me. Make sure that's not too tight.”
“Could go a bit tighter,” Pyro said, flexing his fingers to show they were fine. “Don’t worry, it’s not like there's circulation to cut off.”
Abolish nodded and worked backwards to tighten the bandages. “How's that?”
Pyro moved his fingers and nodded. “Good.”
Abolish tied the bandages off and sat back. “I’d wager Legs already knows who else Scott turned if Cleo needed to talk to him immediately. Not the biggest fan of being the only one out of the loop, but I get that it's not your secret to tell.”
“Sorry,” Pyro said tracing the edge of the bandages. “If it helps…I don't think they’re a threat to the town. They're certainly not a friend of the castle.”
“Speaking from experience?” Abolish asked.
“Oh yes,” Pyro chuckled. The fall from the bridge after Apo had pushed him was still burned into his memory every time he tried to cross it.
“That doesn't narrow it down much,” Abolish joked.
“It takes you off the list,” Pyro bantered back.
“I’m no friend of the castle either,” Abolish warned.
“You're a friend to me,” Pyro said. He faltered, studying Abolish's expression in case he’d missed something. “…aren't you?”
“I haven't done much to earn that. The bar is that low?” Abolish asked. He seemed…sincere? Concerned? Maybe a little out of his depth?
“You have no idea,” Pyro said with a huffed laugh.
“Then yeah, I can be a friend,” Abolish said, his demeanor warming slightly. Pyro smiled.
Cleo knocked on the wall before coming back into the room with Legs. “All done?”
Pyro lifted his bandaged hand. “All done. It already feels a lot better than it did.”
“That's good to hear,” Legs said. “When you come back for the rest, try to come closer to sunset if you're unannounced. I’m getting too old to be up all night like this.”
“Sorry,” Pyro said, sheepish.
“That's on me, Doc,” Cleo said. “I wasn't sure if I’d get another chance to bring him in.”
“I’m glad you came to me, that's what I'm here for, but if it's a planned visit, I’ll be better prepared,” Legs said. “And awake, ideally.”
“I’ll let you know when I'm able,” Pyro said. After the last few weeks, it was jarring to be treated so…normally. He hadn't been treated like a person in so long… “Thank you. You’ve all been…well, thank you.”
“Thank you for your trust,” Legs said.
“You earned it,” Pyro said with a lopsided smile.
A knock came at the door. Pyro froze.
“Doctor, are you awake?” Drift called through the door.
“Uh,” Legs said, looking back and forth between the door and Pyro. “Yeah, just a minute.”
Pyro got up, grabbed his coat, and started trying to look for a way to get out without alerting Drift. Abolish glanced at the rose and caught Pyro's wrist. Once Pyro was looking at him, he pantomimed getting smaller and gestured to his coat pocket. Pyro stared at him for a moment, wavering even after they realized what Abolish was asking of them, then glanced at the door, nodded, and turned into a bat. He was careful to keep to one form rather than the swarm that could form when startled, his entire body now perched on Abolish's gloved hand. Abolish pushed his chair back into the shadows and tucked Pyro in his pocket. When Pyro poked their head out, they could see Legs and Cleo staring, Cleo trying not to laugh. Pyro flattened his ears back and squeaked indignantly, and Abolish put a hand over him. They peeked out between his fingers in time to see Legs shake his head and open the door.
“Hi, um…sorry if I'm interrupting,” Drift said, waving to Cleo and Abolish over Legs’ shoulder. “I was just…I’m worried about Avid, and I wanted to know if he's talked to you.”
“To me?” Legs asked, stepping out of the way to let Drift in. “He and I haven't exactly seen eye to eye.”
“Yeah, I know, but…well, you're a doctor, and…he's sick,” Drift said, wringing her hands as she came in. “I was hoping he'd told you more than he’s told me, because otherwise, I think Scott may know more than any of us, and…I don't know what to do.”
“Scott?” Legs asked, shutting the door. “Did he say something to you?”
“I was out looking for Avid, and I ran into him,” Drift said. “I’m fine, he didn't do anything, he just started asking what I knew about Avid's illness. I don't know anything about it, I just know he's sick, and it's getting worse, but Scott knows something, and…I don't know, I just hoped maybe he wasn't the only one.”
“What did he tell you?” Legs asked, guiding Drift to the chair Pyro had just vacated.
Pyro fidgeted nervously as she came closer, and Abolish rubbed his thumb up and down the fur on Pyro's back until they went still – confused and frozen at the touch. Was this a warning? But it was so gentle…and Pyro hadn't been warm since…
“Not much, just that if he's right, Avid won't heal if he's in town,” Drift said, taking the offered seat. “That doesn't make sense, does it?”
“It…might if there's magic involved,” Cleo said, glancing at Abolish and his stowaway. “I…heard from one of the vampires that when all the beacons were consecrated, it hurt them, and being around a holy beacon seems to block their magic. If his sickness is some sort of curse, or there was some magic holding it at bay, being around the beacon could be making it worse.”
“The beacons hurt them?” Legs asked. He would have no way of knowing how much the genuine concern in his voice meant to his hidden guest.
“He has been involved with the supernatural for most of his life,” Drift said. “It would make sense. I’d hate to have been hurting him, or Shelby…”
“It isn't your fault,” Legs said. “We didn't know.”
“There's something off about the beacons, but I can't put my finger on it,” Abolish said, idly petting Pyro's head with his thumb. Pyro was absolutely melting into his touch at this point. “I can't help but feel like we're missing something.”
“…you know a lot more about this kind of thing than you’ve let on, don’t you?” Drift said.
Abolish sighed. “Not sure how much is relevant yet, but yes,” he admitted.
“Pretty sure anything at all is better than the rest of us are working with,” Drift said with half a laugh.
“There are a few people I can think of who might make some very permanent mistakes if I taught them what I know before we know which of the vampires are real threats, and which are just afraid,” Abolish said.
“Oh! Oh, so you're like, a real vampire hunter?” Drift said. Pyro tensed at the suggestion, and Abolish started rubbing his back again, more subtly now that attention was fully on him. “Not that Avid isn't real, I mean, he knows a lot, but-”
“He doesn't have the practical experience to be out on his own,” Abolish said wearily. “And I wouldn't call myself a vampire hunter, exactly. It’s more complicated than just hunting them. They're still people, it just takes a little more to stop one that goes bad.”
“…do you think we can trust what Scott said about Avid?” Drift asked.
“I couldn't say,” Abolish said. “I don't know him well enough.”
“Pyro might,” Cleo said pointedly. “If he was willing to talk again.”
“You talked to Pyro?” Drift asked. Pyro stiffened again.
“He's not as scary as he seems,” Cleo said. “Not on his own, at least.”
“I think Scott's had a lot of influence over him that he hasn't been able to shake,” Legs said, glancing at Abolish.
Drift caught the glance and narrowed her eyes.
“If he were here,” she said slowly. Legs grimaced, and she immediately turned toward Abolish, searching. “I’d say I’m sorry we threw holy water on him – I didn't know it would burn him like that. I’d be really grateful for some insight, and I came unarmed.”
The room was silent, waiting on Pyro's decision. Would they let him stay hidden? They pressed their head into Abolish's thumb, and Abolish scratched between their ears, moving slowly to avoid drawing attention. He had Abolish, he had Cleo, he had the Doctor, he had Drift 's word…
They pulled themself out of Abolish's pocket, and onto his hand.
“Oh my goodness, that's adorable,” Drift said putting her hands over her mouth in delight.
“I’m not cute,” Pyro grumbled, hopping out of Abolish's palm before turning back to his usual form.
“Well, maybe not so much like this,” Drift said. “You look…rough, are you…okay?”
“No, but I'm better than I was an hour ago. The burns might scar, but they're healing,” Pyro said, softening at her genuine concern. “And yeah, if you talked to Scott today, you can probably trust that he at least believes what he was saying. I don't know if he's right or not, but if he’s offering help, it's genuine now.”
“That helps so much, thank you,” Drift said. “Why do you say it's genuine now? Did something change?”
“It's a long story, but yeah, he's changed,” Pyro said. “The short version is, vampires get a bit of the personality of people they turn, and Scott got something that's made him worry about people. He's been fussing over the new fledgelings in a way…” he faltered. “In…in a way he never worried about me. He was always nice to Shelby, aside from when we…claimed her for our side but even then, Owen had to be the one to teach us to fee…” he stuttered, rubbing the bite mark on his wrist. “To eat.”
Cleo put a hand on Pyro's back. “You alright? You don't have to keep going.”
“You’ve already been a big help, and now we know you're a friend, and I can trust what Scott said about Avid, so we can help him too,” Drift said with an encouraging smile.
Pyro…wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't know if he could trust their kindness, but he wanted to, even if it burned like the midday sun on eyes adjusted to total darkness. Every moment he spent here, another crack formed in his resolve to endure, and pretend he was fine. He would have to go back to the castle, how could he go back into the darkness and pretend–
“You’ve only got a few more hours before sunrise,” Abolish said, derailing Pyro's train of thought before they could spiral entirely out of control. “Anything else you wanted to do before then?”
“No, but…I should get back,” Pyro said reluctantly.
“The main gate isn't silvered yet, we'll walk you there, in case any of the other townsfolk are out,” Drift said. “They shouldn't be, I think everyone else is still taking turns watching Martyn, but just in case.”
“That's…very kind of you,” Pyro said, looking around the room. “Is Martyn…alright? I heard he fell, but I was…otherwise occupied, I didn't see what happened.”
“He's in rough shape, but he’ll recover,” Legs said. “As long as he doesn't keep trying to walk on that leg.”
“And nobody tries to eat him,” Pyro joked. “Sorry, that's…probably not funny…”
“It's a little funny,” Abolish said. “Long as it's just a joke.”
“It is,” Pyro said quickly. They started heading for the door. “Right, um, I should go.”
Drift and Abolish stood to follow, and Legs opened the door for them. As soon as they were outside, the humans and Cleo fell into formation in a circle around Pyro. Pyro shrank in on himself, still nervous at being surrounded, until Abolish put a supportive hand on his back. It was warm. Warm, and…safe.
“You’re alright,” Abolish said, guiding him toward the path. “You're not being cornered, we’re here to help.”
“Right, right,” Pyro said, sheepish at being called out. “Sorry…”
“It would be weirder if you weren't a little jumpy.” Drift said. “You're fine. Well, not fine, you seem like you're doing pretty bad, but we're not mad at you for being nervous.”
“Silver up ahead,” Cleo said, leading the group off the path. “Watch for the doorways, most of them have silver hidden around them.”
“Why? It's not like we can enter without an invitation,” Pyro said.
“In case somebody didn't know they were inviting a vampire in,” Drift answered. “Sorry. It was Avid's idea.”
“Not like he wasn't right to worry,” Pyro sighed, rubbing the bite mark on his neck.
“You do have an open invitation to my clinic,” Legs said. “In case you need something more direct than asking you to come back.”
“That's brave of you,” Pyro said, fiddling with the edge of the bandages.
“Seems like a little trust can go a long way these days,” Legs said, rubbing his neck.
“So I hear,” Pyro said, with a knowing grin. Owen had mentioned something about getting blood from the doctor willingly, and Legs reaction made that seem very interesting indeed.
Legs cleared his throat and changed the subject. “About the cure…”
“They want to know about the cure?” Drift asked, excited.
“Not so loud,” Pyro said, looking at the rooftops nervously.
“They want to know, but they're not willing to go so far as to harm their sire for it,” Abolish explained, speaking louder than he usually would. If anyone heard Drift, he could be sure they heard him too. “So we'll see what the books have to say, but we’ll keep looking for another way.”
Cleo opened the town gate and held it for Pyro. He stepped through, but looked back, reluctant to go.
“If we find more information., is there somewhere we can put it so you can find it?” Legs asked, giving Pyro an excuse to linger.
“I…I have a mineshaft, out in the top of the tallest hill near the lake beacon that I’ve made my nest,” Pyro said, gesturing toward the hill. “If you find any more information, leave a note for me there and I’ll find it. I- I shouldn’t be seen talking to you... I don’t know how they’ll react if I’m seen here.” He looked back over his shoulder, scanning the tree line for any sign of someone watching.
“Thank you, we will,” Drift said. “Go. Stay safe, we know it's dangerous for you.”
As Pyro started to leave, Cleo pulled him into a tight hug. He was stiff at first, but relaxed, and returned it.
“If I don't catch up before you reach the bridge, wait for me before you cross,” she whispered. “I’ll be there. You're not alone.”
Pyro nodded and released them. Cleo stepped back onto the town side of the gate and shut it with a click. He gave the group a nod, and headed for the treeline.
With any luck, the lingering traces of warmth wouldn't be the last they felt. Pyro knew not to rely on luck, but surely, even his losing streak couldn't last forever, right?
Right?