Chapter Text
If you’d ask Shelby, getting turned might have been the best thing that could have happened to her. It’s been a while since any of the vampires or humans have interacted and the progress on the castle has been going along well. With the reaction given by the humans about them turning, she moved into the castle along with Pyro, Owen, and Scott. Not only does she get to live in a castle with their millennia old roommate, but they get to live forever and no longer need glasses.
She would not have had it any other way.
Though, they can not help but miss the town. Specifically some of the residents despite only knowing them for a month.
There’s Mr. M, a famous Author who is also her favourite. She wishes she was able to show him more of her work though that's unlikely given what went down in the last weeks.
Pearl, who she was sure had something off about her.
Cleo, who’s still living in town even after becoming a vampire.
They have gone exploring together with the two many times and really enjoyed it.
Too bad they won't be doing that again
Drift, one of the only two people who did not call them crazy for believing in bigfoot. Sure she’d tease them about it sometimes, but she also let them yap her ears off.
Must have come from having Avid as her roommate.
Right, Avid. the other person who did not call her crazy. Even though she believed everyone else thought he was way worse, they both bonded over that.
How did he react?
He might kill me on sight.
Shelby frowned, shaking her head.
It doesn't make sense to worry about that now.
They sighed, feeding the last sheep.
Both her and Pyro were just leaving the animal pens when they met Scott and Owen in the main hall, returning from a mining trip.
“Pyro, Shelby, just in time.” the elder smiled, greeting them as they came over. The other vampire waved at the two before retreating into the crypt.
“Need something from us?”
“Need help with anything?”
Both fledglings beamed, returning his smile as they greeted him.
Scott nodded at both questions, carrying the bags of rocks into the storage room as they followed behind him. “It’s been a week since we’ve turned a beacon.” Pyro and Shelby looked over at each other, already knowing what he was implying. Pyro was already familiar with turning beacons, having been turned in the first week and being the only other to help Owen and Scott.
Shelby on the other hand has only been a vampire for two weeks and was admittedly afraid of converting beacons with the possibility of meeting up on the humans. The very few times she went was with everyone.
It was obvious it would just be them and Pyro.
Scott hummed in satisfaction knowing they have figured out what he was asking, ”I’m thinking of the lake beacon. Why not get it at least neutral?”
Pyro was immediately onboard whereas Shelby was skeptical.
“Isn't that the closest to the town?”
Scott waved dismissively, putting away the stone he and Owen collected, “Yes, but it’s night so you automatically have the advantage.”
Pyro hummed, nudging the other reassuringly, “Aaand you have me coming along.”
“And I’ll come along if anything happens.”
Shelby was still hesitant but nodded, following behind Pyro as they left.
Since arriving in Oakhurst, Drift has sworn to write in her journal everyday after forgetting to do so back at home. Which is why she found herself by the fountain after an uneventful day.
No one has seen or heard from any of the vampires in a hot minute beside them taking the crypt beacon last week. Everything in the town has also died down significantly. The initial panic and paranoia had dwindled now that everyone wasn’t jumping and constantly looking over their backs.
Even Avid calmed down.
His hysteria died down and his constant vampire lectures finally stopped. Only occasionally reminding others to eat garlic whenever they leave the walls.
All of this should have given Drift some sense of security, maybe even a peace of mind, but she was as anxious as ever. Talking to Pearl last night has helped her somewhat. She had made up her mind to write to Shelby but she had no clue what to write in the letter. To add to her worry, she was able to speak to Cleo earlier today.
“Are you sure she’d even want to see any of you? Remember what happened at the Castle?”
Drift grumbled under her breath in thought as she wrote, unaware as she got up and began walking.
If she were to write a letter to Shelby she should at least apologise. She was there the last time they charged at the castle. Though she did nothing she figured it could at least give her something to start with.
In no time she began walking outside the walls, her mind still on autopilot as she kept scribbling away. Fortunately for her, the moon was full and at its brightest.
Aside from writing to Shelby, she also can not forget about Avid. Despite Pearl believing that there was no use talking to Avid, she felt- no, knew otherwise.
Avid has a good head on his shoulders, he just had... some unresolved problems. He needs to sit and think with his head for once, which Drift can see that he has been doing so recently.
She sighed, Maybe I’m overthinking this
Drift paused as she felt a warm breeze brush past her. Somehow she found herself on the beach at the lake beacon.
By herself.
With nothing to defend her
How did I not get attacked
Drift inhaled sharply before heading towards one of the boats left behind, entering it as she began rowing to the island.
She’s here already so why not. She’ll just go back when she gets her thoughts together. Drift hummed as she climbed the stairs, making herself comfortable as she sat down, leaning against the beacon.
The vampires haven’t done anything for the week and the lake’s the closest to town, nothing would happen.
She took it back almost immediately as Shelby, whose hair has gone completely white and now had bright red eyes, suddenly appeared in front of her.
Just as the two got to the tower as bats, they noticed a person leaning against the beacon. Alone. Meeting someone by themselves nearing the middle of the night was the last thing the fledglings expected to see. Whoever it was had their back turned towards them, completely unguarded.
Glancing at each other, they silently hovered closer but kept their distance.
“Who is that-?” Pyro’s whisper got cut off as Shelby gasped.
“Drift?”
Realising that it was Drift of all persons, was something Shelby did not expect. To their knowledge, Drift hated being alone, only ever leaving the town with company.
So why in the world would she be here?
Alone at that
Pyro blinked, now recognising the woman, “oh, it is Drift.”
They silently glanced at each other again before Shelby wordlessly went over, turning back into her original form whereas Pyro slipped inside the tower unnoticed.
Shelby had to suppress a giggle at the other’s reaction.
Drift yelped and dropped her book, staring up at Shelby in shock.
They both kept quiet, staring, reluctant to speak up first. Drift, still gathering her thoughts, and her breath. While a part of Shelby expected to get attacked or shunned from the other.
Finally, Drift broke the silence with an awkward chuckle, ”Oh my goddess Shelby, you scared me.”
No reaction?
Shelby kept quiet. Drift didn’t try to run, or even attempted to move away. Though they believed the possibility of Drift attacking was unlikely, she still expected a negative reaction. Not this. If anything, she looked relieved. Shelby bit their cheek before speaking.
“That’s it?”
Drift paused, looking at her confused, “What?”
Shelby got even more confused at her confusion, “No attacks, no running, no-… nothing?”
Drift shook her head then frowned, “Why would I- actually never mind, don’t answer that.” Drift looked away for a moment then sighed, looking up at the other “I’m actually glad to see you.”
Shelby paused, “What.”
Hesitant, Drift went quiet before inhaling deeply, “Can we still be friends?”
Shelby kept quiet, taken off guard by the question.
“I know you might hate me because I sort of took part in casting out you and the other vampires and did nothing to defend you, but… I miss having you in town,” Drift sighed then continued, rambling “I owe you an apology for that, and also for charging at the castle with the others, and I’m willing to make it up to you somehow… I really don't want to lose our friendship.”
“Oh.” Shelby stared at her, lost for words, “I… that was the last thing I’d expect.”
They went quiet again, swatting away the invisible hand tugging at their sleeve.
Not now Pyro.
“I… do want to still be friends, but-” another tug,
“Look up.” Pyro whispered, low enough for them to only hear.
“-I need some time to think.” She quickly glanced around, noticing a bat staring down at her.
Is that Scott-
Right, the beacon
“Completely understandable,” Drift nodded, finally getting up, “I really needed to get that off of my chest.”
Shelby hummed to herself, helping Drift up, “One thing though, isn’t it a bit late for you to be out? By yourself at that?”
Drift paused then nodded, “Oh right, I should be going back before Avid gets a heart attack.”
Shelby waved as Drift ran down the tower, waiting until she was out of earshot before turning toward the bat and Pyro, who was now visible.
“Scott?”
“Wrong, guess again.” The bat, now turning into Owen, hummed as he landed, “What was that about?”
Shelby hesitated before shaking her head, “Oh, it was nothing.”