Chapter Text
Owen moves through the forest from Beacon to Beacon, with anger in his heart that he has not felt since Awakening alone from his turning sleep. Listening and over hearing things whether it's secret conversations from the forest or from town itself.
Eventually he goes to the lake Beacon, finding Pyro at the top. The conversation is stiff. Pyro obviously tries to make it light-hearted but Owen is not in the mood to entertain it. Scott joins the two of them, walking into the awkward silence, he barely says two words before all three of them feel the turn of a new vampire.
“That has to be Apo or Cleo, Shelby knows not to turn anyone without us” Owen says, though less certain than before.
they're barely able to question it when Martyn comes running to the top of the stairs, sword and shield out ready to fight, he doesn't even take a swing before he goes back down letting them chase after him. he activates a holy word freezing them to their core on the steps, as the fighting starts things starts to blur, clawing at whatever towns folk is closest. feeling a sense of accomplishment whenever their claws come away bloody. Even the holy water barely stops them from giving just as much as they got.
The three vampires splitting up then coming together Owen eventually loses pyro to a fight with sausage in the lake, trusting him to at least be able to take that specific human. Scott grabs Owen only to get cornered by drift. That's a mistake for her as Scott's claws dig into her taking out chunks until she's dead on the ground.
Owen's instincts take over though this time there is no time to do anything, only biting to give her blood, letting her take as much as he can give her before Scott tears him away. Owen fights horribly with Scott every step of leaving drift on the ground, every part of him screaming. The only reason he isn't actually is because of Scott's hand on his mouth letting his fangs bite into his palm.
Eventually they get far enough away that Scott apparently feels comfortable to let him go. “What the hell, you give me a new fledgling and then you just tear me away what are you” Owen starts to scream at Scott.
“We are in the middle of a fight, turning her with all the hostility isn't a great place to be seen. she'll come to the nest eventually” Scott tries to calm him. If Owen didn't know him as well as he did. He would think he was unaffected but the weeks of living in close quarters to one another helps him see the tension. The set of his jaw and the way he stops his mimicry of breathing. He shifted only once from foot to foot before stopping completely.
“she better she barely got any blood what if she turns out like apo barely able to hold it down”
“she won't, even if we have to force more of your blood down her throat, now come on let's go find who the other turn was.”
Owen reluctantly leaves, following after Scott in the direction of the new vampire pull. As they move they hear voices, Cleo's being the loudest. It's not until they see who's in front of her did they find out why, it's Avid obviously newly turned with everyone questioning who did it.
With Avid there are now eight vampires running around Oakhurst with new rogue ones being turned what feels like every day. Owens is very glad he was able to give drift his blood before he left. He's even more glad that his instincts let Avid leave without him, not wanting whatever tirade he would go on left alone surrounded by vampires, Even with avid gone it doesn't stop the arguments of who did it, that fills the space with no one admitting to it.
“So many vampires turning in one night I hope whatever side you're picking is the right one” Scott says pointedly at the rogue vampires.
Both say that they've picked a side but Owen doesn't believe either of them. “You're trying to play both, don't pretend that you're not. I hope you pick the right one before it's too late with the way you're going I'm not even going to let you near the nest”
Apo only looks confused but Cleo stops looking at Owen “you have a nest”
“We are in the middle of a human versus vampire conflict you think I don't” Owen says as if it's obvious, to him it is, his instincts screaming at him kind of made it impossible to not have one.
“ I just didn't see you or Scott as being the type who made it, was it Shelby” Cleo tries to say offhandedly But Owen recognizes that she's digging for what he has no idea, but he doesn't like it.
“ It's my nest” Owen feels offended that she thinks he couldn't make one, why she knows what a nest is in a vampiristic context is a question for concern.
“Seriously” Cleo does her own equivalent of dropping her jaw to the floor. She's too well put together to actually show it, but her face reminds Owen of Scott finding out all about the inventions of the modern day, which Scott's completely shocked by but doesn't want it to show.
“What the hell is a nest?” Apo cuts into the conversation.
“it's a communal place for covens usually where sires or the older vampires teach fledglings” Cleo explains it confusing both Scott and Owen as to how she knows as the two of them look between themselves.
“shouldn't Scott be the one making it not Owen unless Owen's older” Apo shows more interest in this conversation then she's shown for weeks about vampire culture.
“ I am the eldest, An elder vampire to be exact but Owens the one taking care of the fledglings” Scott explains not one to turn away an opportunity to brag.
Apos eyes are filled with confusion “you don't seem the type”
“shows what you know” Owen hisses out at her.
“you're terrorizing the town, I don't think anyone sees you as the nurturing type” Apo spits out back.
“Owens doing a great job with the fledglings,” Scott defends him.
“ Biology helps” Owen whispers, but forget that all of them are vampires, which means enhanced hearing.
“ What does that mean?” Apo questions.
“Owen's a brood mother” Scott looks at Cleo's face watching for a reaction, he gets one.
Cleo's eyes widen “what do you mean he's a brood mother”
“what the hell is that” apo speaks up again.
“It's a very important type of vampire and you're telling me Owen is one” Cleo waves her hand at Apo as if telling her to shut up before looking very intently at Owen.
“I guess you both got quite unlucky with how far away you were both when you were turned” Scott would sound sorry if it wasn't for the smirk on his face.
“You've been turning fledglings away from a brood mother, and no wonder Apo has their thing with blood,” Cleo yells.
“what does that have to do with it” apo says, no longer able to just listen.
“ She's made no want to join the coven, why should we help her” Owen reminds Cleo of their obvious unsteady alliance.
“ Are you implying you can help me, I don't think you can, I've always had a problem with blood” it isn't the first time that she's mentioned She had a problem with blood, which is weird considering her military background.
“ You wouldn't be the first to have a problem with blood, but you should still be able to keep it down. Even with the disgust, the taste should stop you from gagging." While Owen has no experience other than apo, Scott's obviously had to deal with this before.
“ How” apo faces twist with confusion again at how they could have known what her problem was.
“You would have to drink my blood” Owen says.
“no” Apo instantly denies “I'm not doing that I can barely keep down animal blood as it is” she probably means to say that quieter than she does.
“That's probably a symptom of being turned violently when a brood mother is near but not getting any of their blood” Cleo glares as she speaks at the older vampires.“ Scott you had to have an idea that Owen was one especially since you know now, why the hell were you turning us away from him”
“I didn't want to make him feel pressured, trapping a brood mother through forced turns doesn't exactly end well I've seen what happens” Scott performatively does a full body shiver, as he thinks back to what Owen can only assume to be the last time he's seen that happen.
“ I haven't felt pressured Scott, I was a fledgling less brood mother with a dead sire. I wasn't exactly in the best spot to say no to any fledglings, it would have been better then having to deal with all the Rogue vampires.” While he's reluctant to say anything in front of non Coven members, he is going to tell him how stupid it was to have vampires that weren't in their coven made In their territory, during what was obviously going to turn into a conflict.
“You say that now but if I did this earlier I know your claws would have come for my neck, it would have been so annoying to get you on my side.”
“so I need to take Owen's blood to help” apo looks just as reluctant as ever
“both of us do what the hell were you thinking” Cleo yells at them again.
Owen can do with her being a little quieter. They have good hearing, She doesn't need to raise her voice. “so now you're on our side”
“I'm not going to force myself into a decay as much as I know apo wants the Cure. I'm sure she doesn't want to die before she gets it.”
“You do know that if I give you my blood a lot of things are going to change betrayal is not an option, you're going to be one of mine, I don't care how friendly you are with the town make as many friends as you want, you're still going against them” Owen taking a lead of the conversation from Scott.
“I don't want to kill anyone “apo says, less passionately than the last time they spoke, her fatigue slipping into her voice.
“Then stay out of the way. It's the best way to get home to your little lover” Owen says it a little bit more gently than the last time. Understanding the want of going back to a lover, while she hasn't quite endeared herself to him he can see She's not in the mood to argue any longer.
“ We'll both come to the castle later. I'll explain more to Apo why this is very important. It will come back telling you our decision" Cleo grabs apos arm dragging her with her towards the town.
“Fine” Owen spits out at their turned backs.
“Good now we must get back. I imagine Shelby and Pyro are already at the castle by now.” Scott grabs Owen in almost a mimicry of what Cleo did as they go towards the castle.
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Eventually Scott lets go, the two of them being forced to separate in the forest but coming together again. They eventually are able to meet up with Pyro in a place closer to town then Owen would be comfortable with, if it wasn't for the fact that the humans were running around in the forest.
“With how this week is going, trust is going to become very valuable” Scott says this as he looks very pointedly at Pyro.
“I like to think I've earned a bit with fighting at the Beacon” pyro puffs himself up a little trying to mimic Scott but just seems a bit off.
“you might have if you didn't betray us in the first place” this time Owen speaks up.
Pyro hunches into himself “You know”
“Little Inferno you weren't subtle” pyro full body flinches at that. Owen would feel bad about the fear in his eyes. If he doesn't remember the sting of betrayal that he felt. It was the most painful thing he felt since waking up. “Scott go back to the castle I've got this”
“Don't be too harsh on him I've already disciplined him” Scott says but Owen can tell by the tone that he doesn't really mean it.
“ironic coming from you” Owen rolls his eyes.
“have fun” with Scott disappearing through the beacon network, he leaves Owen and Pyro alone.
Pyro's the first to speak up. “how long have you known” he doesn't seem to be able to meet Owen's eyes.
“you were talking plainly at the gate, were you expecting no one to overhear you, I expected better Pyro” Pyro's claws dig into his own arm “Pyro you're my first fledgling, your Scots first in over 600 years, maybe more, you going off to pursue some cure that isn't even created yet hurts all of us.” Owen steps closer to pyro, placing a finger underneath his chin, forcing him to look him in the eye.
“I just wanted to know if it was possible” Pyro's eyes filled with fear reminding him of the night they turned him.
“Ever the scholar” Owen gives him a small smile back that he doesn't quite mean.
“I didn't want to betray you you're so kind, sire not always the best but I think he tries, I guess everyone calling me a monster was getting to my head”
Owen moves his hands to cup Pyro's face. “Come to me next time it gets too much we'll cuddle up in the nest. It's going to get crowded after this today.” Owen knows he's gonna get nothing by yelling. He's already been scolded multiple times and while he no longer trusts the flighty fledgling, he will admit to having a soft spot.
“ I will, I promise no more talking to the humans” oh how Owen wants to believe him.
“good I'd hate to have to discipline you a second time it really hurts when you try to take away the gift we gave you” the words feel acidic on his tongue, taking a page out of Scott's book using honey, instead of vinegar.
“I'm sorry”
He doesn't bother to give a response, only turning back to look at the direction of the castle. “How about we go back to the castle? I'm sure everyone's wondered where we've gone.”
“Can we go into the nest afterwards” Owen stops turning back to look at pyro again “ I just think it'd be nice after the fight I'm sure you want to relax in the nest” he says, as if it's too help Owen and not for his own comfort.
“ Sure” Owen sends a knowing look to Pyro. “I'll even let you take a bite” Pyro's eyes shine after Owen's said that obvious in what he was wanting. Owen turns to finish walking, letting pyro stumble over himself on the way back.
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Owen leans back on his chair listening to Scott recount the events of last night to Shelby. All four of the castle vampires in the area in front of the castle beacon.
“How did she know about brood mothers” Shelby asking the question that they're all thinking.
“Cleo knows a lot more than she lets on” Scott says it more contemplative, obviously reworking Cleo's threat level.
“I told you we should be keeping a better eye on her, you let her loose” Owen argues having one vampire outside their coven was enough by the end of tonight they now have three, four if he puts his instincts aside, drift still hasn't come to the castle.
“You didn't want her anywhere near here” Scott argues back.
“I still don't but at this point all the vampires should be staying in the castle, especially if what she implies is true” Owen hates how crowded the castle would be but It'd be so much safer to integrate them into the coven, even if the idea of her being in the nest makes his skin crawl. Having eyes on a threat is better than having no idea where they are.
“what did she imply” Shelby asks
“that Scott being non-judgmental with his fangs meet her turn worse” Owen glares while he understands not trying to trap him, he just made it worse.
“How can you make a turn worse?” Shelby contemplates, she's not the only one interested in the topic, Owen can see from the corner of his eye pyro leaning in. He's staying mostly out of the conversation but he hasn't left the room.
“When a brood mother is in the area, if they're not given their blood it can turn deadly, they're probably only as strong as they are because it's an elder vampire that turned her” Scott says finally explaining for once. “with this now figured out she will probably come to the castle even if it's just for more information”
“How bad did they get?” Shelby's face twists in concern.
“apo having a hard time keeping down the blood she's getting all the strengths and weaknesses but no changes, her taste buds haven't adapted and it seems her stomach.”Owen tells her, he remembers thinking that she was growing weak but if what Cleo was implying was true it's a lot worse than what he realized.
“what's going to happen to Cleo” pyro says a lot quieter than the other, to be fair he was the one to turn her.
“ With the information she now has I have no doubt that Cleo will come crawling back just as well” Scott doesn't seem too concerned, not the fake unconcerned that he's been doing but really he seems to have no doubt she will come back.
“What about avid” Owen turns his head to look at Shelby remembering that she wasn't there with them when they found out about Avid, Owen suddenly has a feeling that pyro isn't the only fledgling to go behind his back. “Shelby”
“I didn't want him to die. I changed him so he wouldn't, does that mean everything was for nothing” Shelby looks on the edge of tears.
“Shelby, were you the one to turn him” Owen needs confirmation, it doesn't sting as bad as pyro's betrayal. Owen knew that she was talking with the other towns folk and at least this was turning, not wanting to be turned back but that doesn't mean it's not a betrayal.
“he was sick really sick he'd had it since before he came here, it was what was making him all manic, I just wanted him to be better just because we haven't been getting along doesn't mean I want him dead” Shelby seems desperate to explain, shrinking it on herself the same way pyro did as she sees the looks they give her. Pyro seems to realize that, he looked deeply uncomfortable with her becoming a mirror, especially on the same night.
“and now he needs to come to the castle” Scott pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a sigh.
“This is going to be a problem, he is probably going to get the Cure isn't he” Owen complains.
“he's working on it with Legundo” Shelby tells them obviously knowing a lot more than she lets on.
“Damn it he's been actively against us since the beginning, what makes you think giving him things is going to make this better” Owen tries not to raise his voice but she's making it difficult with what she's been seeming to conceal.
“he didn't have a choice” Shelby says but silence is herself again with Owen's glare.
Scott speaks up “I'll talk to him we'll have a lovely little chat about what it means to be a vampire in Oakhurst right now, I'll tell him about how it's best to come to the castle though I will not force him, if he denies coming around oh well”
“you'll tell them how bad it'll get right, you won't just antagonize him tell him to come and then leave right” Shelby's voice turning begging.
“I'm not going to give away Owens brood mother status to one of our biggest adversaries, he might have only been a nuisance but that doesn't mean he wasn't a big one” Scott's not even trying to hide how annoyed he is at Shelby not even her spot as his favorite can save her.
“Hey” she says though it's softly that they can only hear it with their advanced hearing.
“ You're the one who sired him shall be you can tell him how bad it'll get, if he doesn't come around tell him what he has gotten into, take a little responsibility” making it obvious that he does not plan to tell Avid anything useful.
“Okay I can do that” this time it's obvious Shelby's speaking to herself.
“good now” before Scott can finish the doors open. Apo walks in covered in blood, her vampiric tears streaming all the way down her face. Owen can smell but it's not just her own. “Cleo said you can help”
“help with what my dear” Scott tone is conceding.
“don't play coy, Cleo said you can help me be able to keep it down, I just threw up my entire blood bottle in the middle of town.” Well that answers the question of where the blood came from.
“If we're going to help you can't go against us You'll be another one of mine and Owen's fledgling with his blood in your system.” Scott negotiates.
“ Just do something, you've killed me then left me in the middle of town to starve” Apo moves closer to them, her hands folded trying to seem like she's angry but it just looks like she's hugging herself.
“we gave you chances”
“With no context, all I knew was that I needed blood. I didn't know any of the biological changes that would happen. I've had to figure out all of this on my own. I need to get back to Cherri” it's obvious that she's turned desperate.
Owen finally speaks up “come here” Apo hesitates making Owen motion for her to come closer, he takes out a piece of cloth he's been using for all the fledglings on their hunts when they get quite messy and wipes away her tears. “There's no turning back”
“I already can't go back” Owen only bites his wrist, raising it towards her mouth, she stares at it before very slowly moving forward and putting her mouth to it. Owen can see the second the blood hits her tongue, her eyes closing as she bites down in the most vicious he's ever seen her she drags the arm closer to her mouth inhaling as much blood as she can.
The rest of the vampires watch as the front of her hair turns a smoky white. Owen has to tear his arm away when he starts to feel light-headed; he's not getting drained dry. He hears her hiss when it's moved away. “I'm sorry little fighter but you're not draining me dry.” He pushes a white streak behind her ear before saying “you should be nice and bundled in the nest.” He starts moving about forward her obviously not quite all there as she stumbles and Owen's arms.
Scott rounds up the other fledglings to go down to the nest with them. They make it to the nesting room with only a couple of stumbles and all fall in. Owen laid in the corner closest to the door with all the fledglings piled on top of him. Scott stays at the door watching with a faint smirk that obviously wants to be a smile.” I'll get you a blood bottle.”
“Thank you” Owen whispers as he sees Scott leaves, happy to float in his instincts surrounded by what he thought he would never have.