Chapter Text
If Sylvain was being completely honest with himself — he was having an absolutely terrible time.
Newly bonded vampires usually do end up having a terrible time in Sylvain’s defense. All their rights and desires suddenly stripped from them by dhampirs and forced to do their bidding does tend to lead to — a terrible time. However, what Sylvain was not expecting was to be forced to stand in a room full of other hunters as they all looked at him expectedly…. he had no idea what they were expecting of him but he really really disliked being looked at as if he was the hottest weapon around (which he was, but this was not the attention he was looking for).
When he had been told by Felix that they were going somewhere important and that he needed him to ‘behave’ and not ‘be annoying’. He was expecting to maybe go somewhere like a store or maybe some other house. What he was not expecting at all was to be shoved into a car, travel hours in it until they were in a place called Garreg Mach. And then be told that he was going to be spending the afternoon in a room filled with different hunters scattered across Fodland.
Did not help in the slightest that he was not the only vampire in the room either. At first when he walked into the building and smelled another of his kind, he had hoped that he was just imagining it. That it was maybe a lingering scent of another one of his kind or that maybe it was just another dhampir that just had a little bit more vampire in them than usual. But the closer he got the more he realized that wasn’t the case and he felt himself already tensing up… he didn’t do well with others of his kind… most vampires didn’t do ‘well’ with other vampires. But then again maybe this time would be different, maybe this man would change his mind. Yeah stupid him for thinking that because then he met the man in question:
Ferdinand Von Aegir.
In every sense of the word that man looked like the picture perfect vampire in people’s fairy tales. Snow white skin, enchanting eyes, flowing luscious hair, and an air of elegance to his every movement that left you wanting for more. He was absolutely breathtaking and gorgeous in the sense that even Sylvain found himself salivating at the mouth by just looking at him…. and then he spoke. And suddenly Sylvain felt his entire mouth dry up. It wasn’t necessarily that the man was...annoying… but he wasn’t what Sylvain expected either.
For one, the man was weirdly very very human. His mannerisms and speech also sounded very human in the sense that when he talked to the others in the room he saw them as equals and as if he was just part of the gang when in reality he was far from that. Not to say that Sylvain thought himself above humans but it was as if a wolf was suddenly thrusted into a pack of golden retrievers. They might stem from the same gene pool but obviously the wolf was not a dog and could and would kill the dog for sustenance. Ferdinand acted as if he was nothing more than a husky. Not quite a golden retriever but definitely not a wolf either….
It didn’t sit right with Sylvain.
It didn’t help that Ferdinand was also very young from what he could tell. As vampires it was very easy to know someone’s age and Ferdinand was at most, 20-30 years old and based on appearance that meant that he hadn’t been a vampire for very long. Not even a half century old and so Sylvain guessed that that was the main reason for his… personality. Then again Sylvain had no idea because when he had been firstly turned he had been crazed and rabid. Nothing more than just a monster and a killing machine and it wasn’t until he was maybe 120 years old that he was able to think rationally, of course that was when he got trapped and sealed away but that was besides the point. Young vampire’s usually were not this docile and it rubbed him the wrong way that Ferdinand was.
He also didn’t seem to be contracted… at all which led to the question of why the hell he was in a room full of hunters and was willingly helping them out no questions asked. At first he had humored the thought that maybe Ferdinand was contracted to someone, specifically to a man they called Hubert. After all, Sothis really was not pulling any punches when she created that man. He reeked of blood and his eyes told Sylvain enough to know that he was a cold blooded killer. Not to mention the eternal judging gaze he trapped everyone in the room in and so Sylvain knew that man had the capabilities of being someone who would force a vampire into a contract…. except for the fact that he was entirely human and only dhampirs could force vampires into contracts.
“Play nice Felix” a tall blonde quietly whispered to Felix as the room settled down. Splitting into three sections as Sylvain was forced to stand in the middle like a trophy. At least Felix seemed to be as on edge as he was, the people that were in his side of the room all were whispering things to him that Sylvain could quietly make out but not enough to truly understand their words.
“Sylvain Jose Gautier” a white haired girl spoke as the room finally settled in completely. “I honestly thought he was a myth.”
Sylvain could see Felix roll his eyes from the place he was sitting. “Yeah well, I couldn’t really be out telling everyone that my family had him in our possession” Felix spoke, his voice more guarded than Sylvain had ever heard it be.
“You know he doesn’t really look all that old” the redhead sitting next to Felix mused. “Kind of looks a lot like Ferdinand.”
“It is foolish of you to think as such. I can assure you that he is nothing like Ferdinand” Hubert spoke up. “If anything his mere existence is one that we should all worry about.”
“Now, now Hubert, no need to try and execute someone else’s vampire when you clearly have one at your disposal too” a brunette man chuckled, speaking for the first time since Sylvain had walked into the room. Something about that man unsettled him to hell and back. There was something up his sleeve, a hidden secret that his instinct told him was dangerous. He was different from the others — then again most hunters felt off for him so maybe it was just paranoia.
“Like I said, Ferdinand and that thing are completely different beings. Killing him is the safest bet for us all.”
“Kill him and I will kill that sad excuse of a vampire behind you” Felix growled standing up and slamming his hands on the table. Hubert immediately copied the notion. The two of them immediately caught in a trance as they glared at each other. The silence in the room stretched out as they decided whether or not to continue with their threats or back down. The redhead girl besides Felix immediately tried to get the man to stand down while the blue haired boy besides Hubert did the same thing but both ignored them. Felix just shook the girl away and twitched forward almost as if he wanted to pounce on the other man, his jaw clenched tightly and his heart beat began racing. In that exact moment Ferdinand stood up from his chair, fangs slowly starting to extend out and eyes turning a deeper shade of red and somehow that really pissed Sylvain off.
Instinctively his head snapped towards Ferdinand, not bothering to bare his fangs but catching the younger vampire in his gaze as his eyes turned a dark crimson, so dark that it looked almost black. And in that exact moment Sylvain recognized why that small action had pissed him off. It was as if Ferdinand had actually thought that he would be able to touch Felix while he was around. Yes he wasn’t necessarily very close to Felix but he was someone that had taken care of Sylvain, mix that with the fact that Sylvain was contracted to the man and well obviously he would step up and protect him if that was necessary and the fact that this young, newborn, baby vampire thought that he stood a chance next to him, well, that really pissed him off.
Ferdinand's stance immediately faltered, his fangs retreating back quickly. Sylvain speaks, voice lowering to a growl. “Someone really should teach you some proper manners. It’s common courtesy for newborns to know better than to bare their fangs in front of someone that’s clearly older, after all, we wouldn’t want your pretty little face to get hurt.” He watched as Ferdinand’s eye’s widened, watched as even Hubert himself tensed. The two expecting Sylvain to suddenly jump forward and rip Ferdinand’s head from his body.
“Sylvain, stand down. Now.” Felix breathed out behind him and only then did Sylvain realize he hadn’t been keeping himself in check. His blood thirst and anger suffocating everyone in the room the longer he was staring Ferdinand down. He chuckled before stepping back, feeling better at the way that both Hubert and Ferdinand were now suddenly a lot less willing to fight than before.
“My bad, my bad” he smirked as he stepped closer to where Felix’s was now sitting, putting his hands on the table as he leaned forward until his lips brushed against Felix’s ears, relishing in the small crimson shade that was now covering the tips of them. “Though I am not opposed to killing them if that’s what you want me to do.”
Felix clicked his tongue, “behave.” A soft chuckle escaped Sylvains lips again as he stepped away to stand where he had been told to before, his arms crossed behind his head as he looked around the room. When he had first entered the room and found himself looking at 20 hunters, he had been reasonably intimidating, now however? Oh it felt marvelous to know that most of them, if not all, were now the ones that were intimidated.
“Older vampires are no joke huh” the brunette man smirked.
“I did not request this meeting to talk about Sylvain,” Felix sighed.
“It’s not everyday that a hunter gains control of such a strong vampire, I think we’re allowed to talk about this” the white haired girl spoke, words measured and clipped.
Felix clicked his tongue, his hands curling into fists. “I am here to ask permission from both of you to allow my group and I access to roam your territories.” He continued on, breezing past the topic that was Sylvain.
Instantly the room grew silent as everyone took in the words that Felix had spoken. Even the people that were sitting besides Felix looked at him in shock, clearly the request was one that was abnormal for the hunter to make. Almost immediately the brunette’s smile turned devious, almost sinister, as he looked Felix up and down before speaking. “Of course you can have access to my territory, however, only if you keep me in the loop as to why you need to travel through Leicester.”
An annoyed sigh escaped Felix’s lips, and where Sylvain was getting ready to hear Felix argue on this, he simply relented. “Fine. You have my word that I will keep you informed.”
The brunette smiled as he leaned back on his chair, pleased by the turn of events. “Will your vampiric companion be joining you?”
“Obviously.”
“Good” the man smiled. “I have plenty of personal questions I want to ask him when you come visit.” Ah there it was. Sylvain was sure there had been a reason for such an easy acceptance. Of course it was because he wanted him, that was just great. Not at all unsettling for him.
“If you keep me informed” the white haired girl began to speak. Hubert immediately tensed up to say something but the girl simply raised her hand to silence him before continuing. “If you keep me informed and leave your vampire behind in Faerghus. Then you can travel through my territory.”
“Absolutely not.”
She quirked her eyebrow up. “Why not?”
“I need him for a specific reason, wouldn’t have freed him otherwise” Felix answered bluntly and assured but Sylvain didn’t miss the way that his shoulders tensed up. Especially given the fact that he had not in fact, freed him. He had escaped but Sylvain guessed that that was something Felix didn’t want them all to know.
“And what is the specific reason?” Felix frowned and instantly Sylvain realized that their actual mission was one he wanted to keep a secret and so feeling generous, he spoke up.
“There is an old acquaintance of mine that was spotted running around Fodland once more. Given the fact that we’re the same age I can assure you that no dhampir, especially human hunters, will be able to hunt him down plus — he blends in very easily. So unless you know to look for him, you won’t be able to spot him at all, but I am familiar with everything that he does and the prey he likes to hunt which is why I was released for this mission” Sylvain spoke, the lie coming naturally to him and as easy as breathing. His tone and mannerisms believable and his words leaving no room for doubt. Then again he was a vampire; lying was as natural to him as breathing.
“I find it hard to believe that you would kill another of your kind, especially an acquaintance” Ferdinand spoke, eyes narrowing.
That instantly caused Sylvain to laugh cruelly, “bold of you to assume that I care about killing any of my kind. I have no qualms in doing so if it’s necessary....” He added, looking at Ferdinand up and down once more, the younger vampire instantly tensing at the words as if he hadn’t known that. As if this was news to him. That in itself left Sylvain feelings once again, weirded out. Vampires were solitary creatures, he had learned that instantly when he had first been turned. No other vampire will help you, much less show your mercy. Mix that with the fact that vampires were naturally very territorial and aggressive and well, the fact that Ferdinand even asked that question didn’t sit right with him.
“Darling, most vampires hold no loyalty to each other. Quite frankly you should consider yourself lucky that I’m friendly enough to not kill you for just being near me — This is either the first time you’re hearing about this or are you actually so full of yourself that you think that you cannot be killed” Sylvain spoke, making a mental note of the way that Ferdinand fidgeted around with each word that had left his lips. Taking into account how some of the people in this room hearts began to beat faster.
Ferdinand breathed in, “I wouldn’t say-“
“That’s enough Sylvain” Felix cut in. Glancing over to Sylvain and frowning, silently telling him to not poke into this situation.
“Alright alright” Sylvain fake pouted. “No need to be mean to me, I’m just trying to make friendly conversation among a peer.”
“Well stop, you’re annoying and I’m trying to do something here” Felix growled before turning over to look at Edelgard. “I need to hunt this thing down before it hurts people.”
“...Why would you keep this kind of information to yourself” the white haired girl asked Felix though her gaze was now glued onto Sylvain. The redhead simply smiled at her and watched as her heart jumped for a split second before it calmed down once more. Her face showed no signs of the internal struggle going on in her chest.
“The vampire comes from Faerghus, only reasonable that I’m the one to clean up the mess” Felix lied just as easily as Sylvain. “Plus, like the vampire said. No use telling people about it that have no hope in defeating it.”
“Bold of you to assume that you’re the only capable hunter here simply because you’re a half human” a purple haired man spoke for the first time that day. Felix immediately glared at the man, a low growl wanting to escape at the words he had uttered.
“I am sure if we all joined together. We would be able to do this without the help of your vampire” the girl added. Sylvain watched as Felix’s fist turned white knuckled, heard as his heart began to beat faster.
“What part of no hunter here can succeed in this, do you not understand?” Sylvain answered for him. “Now you are all welcome to prove me wrong. Kill me right here, right now and you will surely be able to kill the other vampire. But if you can’t…. then my statement stands true.” He shrugged with a smirk on his face.
“It would be my pleasure to kill you,” Hubert answered slowly.
“This is ridiculous” a girl's voice suddenly spoke up, all heads turning around to the pink haired girl whose voice belonged to. “What? Not even 10 minutes ago we were all shitting our pants when he” she said as she pointed at Sylvain. “Got a little grouchy at Ferdinand for growling and now we’re going to sit here and pretend that we can kill him? Please. Not only are none of us dhampirs but all of us would have to get together to try and just hold him down and I’m pretty sure that some of us would die even then. And quite frankly i don’t feel like dying so I would personally stand back and watch it all happen.”
“She’s right” the green haired man yawned before continuing. “There’s a reason why Fraldarius hasn’t killed him after all and we all know how much he loves killing vampires” he spoke, shooting a glare over to Felix that Sylvain didn’t quite understand. “So it wasn’t out of the goodness of his heart. It’s pointless to have this macho showdown when we’re clearly going to be on the losing side. Might as well just let someone else do the fighting while we sit back and do our own thing.”
“Couldn’t agree more” the brunette smiled before turning to the white haired girl. “Not going to tell you how to run your territory Edelgard but I think, given everything… that maybe, underestimating a vampire, given your guys history, doesn't sound very smart.”
“And what is that supposed to mean, Claude?” Edelgard spoke, her voice a venomous whisper.
Claude smiled innocently, “I’m just saying that maybe we should leave the hunting to the one, true vampire hunter that can actually kill a vampire whereas all of us here can only contain them. This way no more people get hurt. I’m sure you understand.”
Immediately Hubert stood up from his chair, glaring down at Claude but Edelgard once again raised her hand to stop him. Her eyes piercing right into Claude despite the other man not even being phased by it. “You have no right to speak of that incident. Or anything that has happened in my territory.”
“I know I know,” Claude answered, putting his hands up in defeat. “And hey, I’m dragging myself down too when I say that. Not like Leicester is any better at hunting down vampires. Unlike Adrestia or Faerghus, we never have had vampire hunters of our own…. So let’s face it Edelgard. When it comes to killing vampires, Faerghus has always been better at it historically and is also currently the only ones with the means to kill vampires. If this threat is as big as it is to force a Fraldarius of all people to pull out their trump card. Then maybe we should step aside and let the expert handle it.”
Edelgard stayed silent for a couple more seconds, eyeing Claude questioningly, trying to find a crack in his defense but ultimately she sighed. “Very well, but as Claude said. You will keep me informed with everything you do in my territory. And if I feel like you need to be escorted in my territory then I will do as such.”
“Fine” Felix gritted out before standing up from his chair. “Then that’s all.” He said but before he could make it out of the room Edelgard once again spoke up.
“I have a request from you however.”
Felix’s shoulders tensed as he turned back to look at the girl, his gaze piercing into her as she continued. “I would like for your vampire to spend some time with Ferdinand even if it’s only a couple of hours. I’m sure that I don’t have to explain to you just exactly why I would ask that from you.”
“Fine whatever, not now though I have things to do. We’ll talk more once I travel to Adrestia” Felix clicked his tongue before standing up from his seat. “Any news you have you can relay to Ingrid, since we’re down a leader it’s not like it’ll matter much anyways” he mumbled before walking out of the room without saying any proper goodbyes. The blonde, Ingrid, just huffed in annoyance while Claude snickered by Felix’s lack of manners. Sylvain took his time to give everyone one final smile, even sending Ferdinand a more ‘toothier’ smile before running after the hunter.
Felix was already getting on his bike by the time Sylvain caught up on him. “I’m not promising that I’ll behave whenever you force me to deal with that child.”
Felix scoffed, “kill him for all I care. Just don’t do it until we cleared Adrestia.”
“Oh? No loyalty for him? And here everyone was acting like they were buddies with him.”
“I hold no loyalty for monsters.” Sylvain mock gasped in offense which only caused the hunter to roll his eyes at him. “I don’t.”
“And here I risked my life protecting you from that terrible feen. Oh how cruel fate is for I have been used by my beloved partner and betrayed in the highest form of cruelty” Sylvain cried as he clutched at his chest with his hand while the back of his other hand was held to his forehead. “Oh how cruel and treacherous you are Fraldarius.”
Felix simply looked at him completely unamused before grabbing his helmet. “Well bitch and complain all you want I could care less. Now you either hop on or be prepared to run. I’m not spending another second here humoring your stupidity.”
“I’ll come I’ll come, last time you made me run after you you were dick and made me run through puddles.” Felix snickered and Sylvain once again felt wronged by the man.