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Vincent was not happy hunting down the vampire for Rhys. She was out late and it would be cutting it close. Again. He growled as the scent finally grew fresh. He almost ran the vampire over as he found her. He would have if she hadn’t stepped up to stop him from going farther. He huffed before shifting back to his human form.
“So shorty, out late again?” he asked. He set his arms on her head. It was always odd how small she was to him even though she towered over Rhys. She made a noise before trying to look up at him. “What? Would you rather I keep calling you vamp?”
“No, you’re just blocking the light. I need it,” she said. She was never rude to him, even apologized for threatening him. She was a weird vampire. He sighed, but moved over and just sat down next to her. He rested his hands on his knees and looked down at her. “Thank you. I shouldn’t need to stay out late for more than tonight or maybe tomorrow.”
“You’re worrying him… and the others.” Vincent was a bit worried too. He wouldn’t tell the vampire, it was better she saw him as an enemy.
“I was hoping they’d just think I was taking longer to feed. I guess I should have known they would know better.” She sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest. She folded her arms over her knees and rested her head. “I just needed something.”
He let the silence settle over them. She looked worried. Rhys asking him for help was weird enough. His strawberry still tried to keep the two separated. He stared down at her hands, noticing the flowers for the first time. He had never seen ones like that before. He reached over to grab one, her icy, pale hand stopped him. It was the first time she looked threatening since their first meeting.
“What, don’t want to share the weird flowers?” he joked. She sighed, but pulled the flowers closer to her.
“They’re for Sola and Luna, it’s almost their birthday,” she whispered. She wasn’t good at hiding the hint of pain in her voice. “I’m getting these for them.”
Vincent nodded. He pulled his hand back and rested his head on it. It took a few minutes before he got bored by the silence. The sun was going to be up soon and she should be leaving. He decided to rest his head on her. She was a good size for him to slouch over and rest. He closed his eyes letting her cool him off in the heat.
“Aren’t you glad to see their birthday?” he asked. She jumped as he spoke. She actually leaned against him more.
“It just reminded me… all of you get older,” she whispered. For the first time Vincent thought she seemed like a sad young girl. Until now she just seemed like a risk to the person he cared about most. She seemed a lot younger than him despite the centuries she’s experienced.
“What are you trying to tell me you aren’t planning to turn them all?” She pulled away and glared up at him. It was almost enough to make him feel guilty. Almost.
“Of course not. I won’t put anyone else through this. Especially not them.”
“Oh please, you wouldn’t make the choice to keep playing family forever?” She stood up to meet his eyes. For just a moment he thought he went too far.
“I never would have sought them out! I didn’t bring them here. They happened to find my home by chance, but I’ll never lock them to this curse… I won’t make them watch the world change while they don’t. Especially not Sola and Luna. They’re too young.”
“So wait until they’re old enough.” She grabbed his chest. Her small hands felt almost menacing against him. Her eyes were turning blood red. He didn’t miss that the flowers were set down safely despite her actions.
“There’s never a time old enough. Do you know how old I was when I became this?” He shook his head. “I was fifteen Vincent! I was only fifteen…”
He stared at her and she did look younger. It was like some illusion placed on her disappeared. The mysterious woman was now a teenager who was terrified of the world. He brought his arms up and pulled her into a hug. He had held a vampire once, they were cold and hurt him in the end. This time he felt her small body shake as everything she’s hidden fell out. He was somehow the adult here, and Delphia needed one.
“Why were you turned at fifteen? How was that an option?” he whispered. He felt her stiffen, but she didn’t pull away.
“That’s how old I was when we started seeking suitors for marriage. It was normal then… I was supposed to find a man, preferably one well off, and live as his wife. Ash and Alessia were a passing dream that would have fallen apart back then. I was able to hide from it all until now,” she said. He tightened his hold on her as she started shaking again.
“Didn’t realize you were that old, I thought you’d been turned more recently than you claimed. Guess I should have believed Rhys when he said your house used to be a castle.” She laughed and it made him smile. He’d thought vampires were these awful monsters and she would be one too. He’d been waiting to show up to find them drained dry or turned like her.
“It still has some of the hidden paths in it. I found them a long time ago when a different wolf found their way in. I spent the night tending their wounds.” It was his turn to laugh. Despite the doubts he’s had, that sounds like something so perfectly her. She wouldn’t just leave someone injured and dying alone.
“So you just helped some weak old wolf from dying on your doorstep? I don’t know, I doubt it, you seemed pretty ready to kill me.” She pulled out of the hug. The young girl was fading back to the adult he’d seen for a while now. He wasn’t sure which was real anymore.
“I thought you were going to kill Rhys… Did you know you’re another reason I could never turn him?” Vincent’s eyes went wide as she gathered the strange blossoms into a delicate bouquet again.
“Oh why? Because you know I’d kill you?” He tried to laugh off the way she said it. It was like she knew more than she should.
“I could never make him watch you die. I wish I could stop you from seeing his life end too.”
“What do you mean? Dying is a part of life, it’s normal. I knew he’d die before me when I first found him.”
She laughed. It sounded bitter enough he thought the flowers would wilt in her hands. She just gave him a strange smile.
“I suppose you’re right… to everyone else death is a part of life. To me it’s just when I finally have to return to solitude. Can I tell you something, Vincent?”
Her eyes were green again. The face staring at him seemed a mixture of both the young teenage girl and the woman he’s known. He couldn’t find his voice, as if speaking would destroy the illusion. He couldn’t even move, but she seemed to take his silence as a yes. The dark skies were fading into the colors of the sunrise. It made him nervous, seeing the way she looked at that moment. It was like she’d disappear then.
“I’ll never search for them again,” her voice was quiet. He reached out a hand, holding her entire arm as though she’d fade away. Tears fell from her eyes. “If they show up to my home in need again I’ll allow them to stay, but I don’t want them to live cursed like I do. They’ll never hear my past or learn that the curse keeps them bound together. I plan to find a way to free them.”
Vincent could barely think. Rhys had talked to him about the bond they had with her. He’d been happy, knowing he’d get his family all the time made dying less terrifying. He wanted to say that to her, to tell her their feelings. He couldn’t make a noise. Eventually she turned from him and pulled her arm free. She bent down and plucked two more of the strange blossoms from the ground. He watched her bite the end of the stem and somehow they seemed ethereal.
“There, looks like tonight is my last late night,” she smiled at him. His arm was still next to where he’d been holding her. She was even starting to smoke. He noticed the flowers were carefully hidden from the growing sunlight by her body. “I finally have their birthday gift. Eternal flowers that only grow under the moon and blossom under the sun.”
Those words snapped him out of his stupor. He pulled her close and turned her around. The sun was only hitting him now. He let out a low growl as he looked down at her. He wouldn’t let her just disappear on any of them. As much as he hated to admit it, he cared about her. She was kind and cared even when he threatened her. She only became angry when it was for the safety of the others.
“You can turn into a bat right?” he asked. She nodded. “It keeps all your stuff with you? I don’t think I’ve seen a bat carrying anything before.”
“Right, it’s as though it’s sent somewhere else for the time,” she murmured. He leaned down, getting in her face. His shadow wouldn’t be enough forever, he would need to get her somewhere inside.
“Then turn into a bat. I’ll take you home.” She looked at him with wide eyes, a bit of fear behind them. It hurt, but he deserved the distrust. “I promised the strawberry I’d get you home safe tonight. He was worried about you smelling like smoke the last few days.”
“Oh… I guess that’s alright. I can try to stay awake while you head back.”
She nodded as if that was best. He growled and offered his hand to her. She placed one of her cold palms on his and closed her eyes. In only a second a bat just a bit bigger than his strawberry stared up at him. Her eyes still looked too human. He could do so much to the vampire in that moment. The sun was rising, she was in a weak form, yet all the animosity he usually held was gone.
Vincent moved quickly to pull open the pocket on his chest. Rhys had asked him to start wearing something with those kinds of pockets. He slipped her into the darkness, the cold form making him wince a bit. Then he buttoned the pocket closed. He started to shift himself to a wolf form. He wanted to move quickly so none of the others got the bright idea to look for them. Once he’d shifted enough he was on the move.
“You can sleep. I’ll put you in your bed when we get there, Del,” he said. “Also, don’t assume everyone thinks those bonds are a curse. Rhys told me he likes them, makes dying seem less scary to him. Gotta admit for someone his size death has to be pretty terrifying.”
There was a small squeak from his pocket. He figured that was her trying to argue, but the weight near his heart increased. He moved quickly through the forest back to her home. He might have said he’d put her in her bed, but this once he planned to keep her close. The way she looked in the dawn’s light stuck in his mind. She was just far enough to disappear on them.