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Count Banquet swept his gaze around the church with a satisfied face. The inner altar was decorated beautifully, the ruined walls were taken care of, and the miserable bell that once rung throughout the land in mourning for the lost bride was replaced, at long last. He contemplated on doing away with the graveyards, then decided against it. If the younglings want their place of death together here, then he had no excuses to refuse.
Everything was perfect. Everything was in his control.
Aside from the people, that is. Jack was powerless when it came to his own brethren. And those who were not.
45 minutes from the destined time, yet the main characters refused to show up. Not even a single letter to calm his poor heart. What was the point of the lost dog he sent if they didn’t even bother to write him?!
Jack peeked around the corner towards the wedding aisle and felt the urge to facepalm.
He and Flavorful Spirits had painstakingly arranged the spaces so that human and vampires could mingle together peacefully. Yet here they are, taking sides as if their bodies and minds were stuck on the day of the conflict. The same day when the Count decided that enough was enough.
That the war that was havocked by their ancestors was not worth it to tear a love apart.
One piece of good news was that both sides were not opposed to the idea of a peace treaty, or they at least discreetly hide their dissatisfaction. Hundreds of years of tension can easily wear out one’s mind. Both wanted to be left alone, thus the treaty was agreed upon with no further trouble.
Oh no, what they were more concern about seemed to be the wedding itself.
He distinctly remembered the amusing and hilarious reactions of the two leaders when he brought up the idea of the wedding as a way to show goodwill. Nidhogg almost fired her gun to the table, while Bloody Sword gave him the most disapproving glare he could muster. Those two were not aware at all. That a budding relationship that was said to be impossible has already bloomed.
Now the two leaders sit oppose each other, their hands on their weapons and their eyes trained on the altar. Jack was sure that just one small disturbance and both would stand up like two peas in a pot and shouted, “I object this marriage!”
They wouldn’t have to wait for long, Jack pondered, not when another 10 minutes had passes while he was reminiscing, and the two grooms still did not show up!
“You look restless, Count. Something wrong?”
Jack stopped his pacing to look up at his two friends. Flavorful Spirits – or Demi, as she fancied herself with – was surprisingly sober. His huntsman friend, however, had ditched the rags that he called hunting gears to a white gown. Not befitting of a priest, but vampires had no traditions for a wedding, nor do they care for one.
That, and no normal priests was brave enough to lead a wedding full of vampires, to the church’s dismay. His huntsman friend had gladly taken up the role instead. Looking at his gleeful expression, Jack suspected that his friend might secretly dislike those dark garbs. Good for him.
“Wanderer and Hound are not to be found, my fellows.”, Jack gave a weary sigh, “I don’t think any harm can happen to them, but those outside might think otherwise.”
“Can’t be that bad, Jacky? They looked quite peaceful the way I see it.”, Demi took a glance at the two leaders, who still glared vehemently at the altar and refused to talk to each other.
Eli, on the other hand, thought otherwise. With a nod, he sent his trusty owl to where the two temperamental leaders were sitting. Voices rang out from Eli’s crystal ball, transmitted by Brooke Rose. The impatient tone of Nidhogg and the irritated growl from Bloody Sword.
“His scent is not here, and it’s only 30 minutes left. Did your lowly subordinate hinder him?”
“Very rich of you, vampire. What to say it is not your man who delayed them?”
“If anything happens to Wanderer, hunters, then you have my words that your end will not be swift.”
“Hound is a man of honor, vampire. Shouldn’t it be your kind that could have harmed him.”
“Hah. If someone as fragile as Wanderer can hurt him, then he is not worth our legacy. ‘sigh’. Of all the bloody targets he could have chosen, he chose such an unscrupulous man.”
“Why you-“
The three party-coordinators stood there in silent, listening to the heads of the sides hurling baseless insults like little boys and girls.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go find the boys and rush them here.”, Demi whisked away, “don’t let them murder each other before I get back, Count!”
“If you will”, Jack held his head in his hands. He could only pray that for once in his life, he could do something good for his people as the successor of the Bloodline.
If he could not even manage a happy end for one of his kind, then what good was he?
“Don’t be so depressed, Count.”, His friend called out from the back. “If things went out of control, we could always blame the demons.”
“Excuse me?”
The huntsman gave a mischievous grin.
“Mister Eli Clark, you come back here and tell me you did not bring demons to a wedding!”
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“3’oclock, two of them!”
“Oh, for crying out loud!”
Roughly an hour away from the church, in the middle of a dessert road, a rickety Austin 7 was speeding like there was no tomorrow. Its passengers were yelling. Two in the car, another two clinging to the back seats with their claws and teeth.
The car was being chased by demons.
“Get the hell off my car!”, the vampire swung his fist and knocked one of the nasty creatures off. The other attempted to clawed at the driver, but its hand plunged into the vampire’s arm instead.
The man smirked. “So long, you sicko.”
Blood seeped from the wounds started to trickle to the demon, from its claw to its body. The demon roared and retracted his hand to no avail: the blood had reached its heart. With a sharp click, liquid turned to solid, the blood transformed to multiple swords and cleaved the demon in half.
Blood spurted out from the lying corpse on the back seat, and Wanderer took a sip from it.
Not too bad, but too sour. He wondered how many lives this thing has killed to make its blood so ugly.
Hound made a sharp turn to avoid the bushes of cactus that made Wanderer almost tumbled back to his seat. The hunter gave a quick glance to check on his partner, then refocus on the road. Though the sight of his beloved covered in blood was quite something to behold.
He would be teased to hell and back as a weirdo, but there was no denying the beauty in front of him.
His sight-seeing was short-lived. The cloudy sky that helpfully concealed the sun had exhausted its energy and drifted away. Rays of sunlight shining down, revealing their positions to even more demons.
“ARGH”
Hound snapped out of his trance to see Wanderer doubled over in pain. The wound on his arm was burning and sizzling, his skin much paler in the agonizing light.
“Norton!”, Hound pulled him down towards the seat. The Austin7 has no roof, something Wanderer neglected to include. It took Hound a second to remember that Wanderer took this car out of the scrap heap and fixed it up himself, and the roof probably was not in the budget.
(Wanderer had considered enlightening Hound with the knowledge that Austin 7 design does not necessarily need a roof, but then the hunter and the vampire would be in a fight between practicality and romanticism for days. Hound was not a car man.)
“How’s the wound?”, Hound draped his coat on Wanderer, shielding him from the light. The sound of running was getting closer.
“Bad”, Wanderer grunted, “just my luck.”
The road slowly turned from sand to pebbles and twigs, and the path disappeared. They were close to the forest, close to their target. Relentless in their chase were two more demons. Running was not an option.
“Alright, time out.”, Hound got up from the driver seat and pushed Wanderer into it instead. He climbed out into the back seat and brandished his knife.
The demons flung their distorted limbs in intimidation, their hollow eyes trained on the hunter. Hound thanked the stars for their stupidity – had they aimed for the wheels, this would have been quite troublesome.
“You know what would be good in these kinds of situations?”, Wanderer hollered from the front, “A gun!”
“And I told you before, darling,”, Hound smiled, his full set of teeth showed not unlike that of a predator, “I don’t need one.”
One demon lunged forward and was met with Hound’s blade. It struggled to get his claws through, but the hunter pushed it back and landed a kick onto its torso. The demon fell off and got back up within a second, howling with anger. The second crawled over the tree branches with incredible speed and caught up with the car, but it made no attempt to attack. It might have wanted to observe, but that just contributed to their stupidity.
Had they attacked at the same time, they might have gotten a chance to injure Hound.
The first demon clung onto the car once more, its disgusting face covered with spasm and saliva. With another roar, the nasty claw found its way to the target. Not the hunter, but the driver. Clank. The claw was parried on its way. Wanderer liked to use his own body to bait the enemies, but Hound had no need for such recklessness.
The Church did not keep him on a leash for so long for no reason.
The knife pushed it way through the claw, cleanly severed the demon in half. It met his friend on the back seat in an undignified pose.
Suddenly, the car swerved violently to the right. The second demon had taken its time and strike just as Hound finish his fellow off, but hesitation dulled its aim. Instead of the hunter, the sudden movement of the car made its hand lodged into the rocket on the side of the car.
“I paid for that, bastard”, Wanderer threw it a glare, then dislodge the rocket. The demon wriggled its hand in vain, and one of its limbs was blown into bits. It hollered and jumped back to the maze of trees.
A demon with one limb lost. A vampire with a useless arm. A wrecked car almost out of gas. Quite a balance fight, Hound mused.
“Ya reckons I can keep up with this car?”, Hound laughed playfully.
“What, with how banged up it is?”, Wanderer scoffed, “You can race this thing at its top speed, I can tell.”, the laughter in his voice was apparent. Hound looked back and was greeted with a big smirk.
In truth, Hound didn’t need an answer. He need only some encouragement from his beloved. And he got one.
What could one measly demon do when he was that happy?
“Cheeky bastard.”, Hound laughed and gave Wanderer’s arm a firm shake, then took off.
He vaulted towards the trees and aimed straight at the demon. Branches upon branches was his ground, the air his battlefield. One would have assumed it was black magic, for he never slipped nor tumbled even once.
The demon became desperate, or perhaps it feared for its life. In one frantic attempt, it lunged straight at Hound just as the hunter slipped for the first time.
The claw hit its target. Blood seeped from the wound, coating the long, nasty hand. Yet the triumphant did not last long. It withdrew its claw with no avail. The demon stared horrified to see the hunter’s smirk, his hand grasping the demon’s tightly. The attack, in fact, did not hit its mark.
Nor did it draw any blood from the hunter.
“Now!”
There was a shout. There was a snap of the finger. There was blood rapidly coming for its face –
Liquid to solid. Blood to sword. Flesh met cold steel.
With a smile, Hound tumbled down with the demon.
He gave the helpless bastard a nice kick and jumped away, where the car awaited. With a dull thud, Hound landed unceremoniously on the lying corpses on the back seat. Metallic scent overwhelmed his nose, and the hunter bolted right up.
“Haa”, he sighed, “would have been nice if you caught me instead.”
The vampire cackled loudly.
“Perhaps another day, Naib.”, the car sped up, “we’re almost there.”
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The car rolled up in front of a ruin.
Moss climbed on the fallen walls; tree branches replaced the roof. Nature wrapped itself around the house as if it was an altar.
Under the warm embrace of the forest lay two tombstones.
Juan & Sara Campbell
“Could have been better”, Wanderer mumbled.
He kneeled in front of the tombstones, his back facing Hound. The hunter hesitated to speak; Hound did not know how to react.
“Come on,”, Wanderer beckoned, “I had a lot to tell you.”
Hound slowly walked to Wanderer’s side and kneeled. With their shoulders side by side, he could clearly see what expression the vampire failed to conceal. There was a twinkle in those crimson eyes as memory flooded back, yet a deep frown engraved itself on his forehead.
“Remember what I told you? About me being a half – baked?”, Wanderer brushed away the dust clinging on the tombstones. Hound gave a small nod.
“Life was rough then. The proud vampire just lost their Creator, so they were desperate to get their position and respect back.
No pure vampire wants to accept some weakling who cannot even control his own blood.”
Wanderer gave a self – deprecating smile.
“My own kind did not accept me, so you can imagine how humans will. Their pride and ego were comparable to the vampires. They went after me, whether I offend them or not. All for the sake of protection, as if the danger they anticipate did not exist only in their mind. Almost took an eye out of my socket, too.
But not Juan and Sara.”
Wanderer’s voice quivered ever so slightly.
“Those two were weird. I should have known; they chose to live inside a forest infested with danger with no weapon, can you imagine the confidence?
They welcomed me with open arms, like they can’t see this bloodless skin and cracked scar.
They told me I could call them mum and dad, if I was not a wimp who got embarrassed easily.
They gave me the name Norton Campbell.”
Wanderer stared blankly towards the ruin that was once home to a family. One with abnormal parents and their immortal child. Images of the past flashed through his eyes, his short – lived happiness with his first family.
Hound gently pulled the vampire into his arms, one hand holding his back and the other caressing his face. The hunter dared not speak; he dared not ask the question on the tip of his tongue.
He knew, with how Wanderer’s shoulders tremble, that no happy ending awaited this family.
“They…”, Wanderer – Norton – leaned his body further into Hound’s embrace, finding comfort in the warmth against his icy skin. “The village found out they were harboring me. It was a hunt, no more, no less.
Those two… they knew. They fucking knew. They should have just done the right thing and kick me out.
But they didn’t… They sent me out to gather some fruits. They promised me pozole. Something about how these things taste much better than blood while looks the part.
When I got back, the massacre was done.
They ripped off Juan and Sara’s heads and pierced them with their sticks. They kept waving them around like some sick trophy, all while shouting with glee. Like they forgot that was their own kind.
I saw what was in the house. My senses just heightened all of a sudden. The dishes were still warm. The chairs were cluttered with bags and whatnot.
I think…they were planning on getting away. With me.”
The hunter’s grip tightened around his beloved’s shoulder.
“…I got away. No one pursued me.”, Norton laughed bitterly, “either they gave up, or I…”, he raised his hand in silence, imagined the blood that might or might not have been there on that faithful night.
It was simple for Hound to deduct what happened next. For a long, long time, Norton wandered the world with no one by his side, hence the title. An agonizingly long while, until Bloody Sword took him in as family. Until the day he met Hound.
But what of his feeling? To be robbed of a sense of belonging for so long, only to have his hope rekindled, then witnessed that hope fade away, along with the breath of his dearest people. The clumsy letters on the stones had almost faded away; how long was his suffering and how did he withstand it? That was something Hound could not have fathomed.
But he didn’t want to offer any words just yet. Because the vampire beside him did not shed any tear.
“Right, enough with my sappy story. That’s not why I took you here anyway.”
Norton shook Hound’s arm off, then clapped his hands together in prayer. An unexpectedly human gesture.
“Juan, Sara, I’m home. You two always nag me about finding my own happiness and all of that. If I could have it any other way, I would want you two to prioritize your happiness instead.”
Norton took a shaky breath.
“But since you’re so insistent, I brought my lover here. Figured that you would want to know first. Sorry it took me so long.”
Norton suddenly laughed.
“He’s just as odd as you guys, can you believe? He just burst into my life without warnings, give me attention when I thought no one would, and stay by my side when I pushed him away. You three together is a nightmare. One I would glad to have though.”
Norton nudged Hound’s shoulder, signaled for him to continue. Hound clapped his hands in turn.
“I’m Hound…agh, scratch that, my name is Naib Subedar. Leader of the Vampire hunter squad one. Former, actually. No need to haunt me later.”
“I’m glad that he trusted me enough to let me meet you. You two are, no doubt, wonderful parents, even if your adopted son said otherwise.”
Naib dodged Norton’s jab with a smirk.
“I wouldn’t dreamt of replacing you as family in his heart. But I can assure you, I will give him happiness, until the end of my days.”
“Do allow me, Juan, Sara, to call you Father and Mother.”
With that, the couple spent a moment of silence to let the breeze carry the promise away. To whenever Juan and Sara’s soul went. Sunlight gently shone down on the lovers, as though blessing from Heaven.
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“Ah, crap.”, Norton looked at the clock on the car, “no way we can make it now.”
It was 10 minutes until the wedding bell rung, and the love birds were still stuck in the middle of the forest with a broken car and the lingering smell of corpses. There was no way for them to be punctual, not even Norton’s blood or Naib’s absurd strength.
“Sorry, Naib.”, Norton heaved a sigh, “I messed up the Treaty.”
The two sprawled on the front seats of the car, with the bloody backseat not an option. Naib took a glance at the clock and scoffed.
“It’s not like it mattered, anyway. Count signed those papers a while ago, they just need something to solidified it. Could have been our wedding, could have been any other day of the week.”
“Yeah, but still- “
“Norton”, Naib interrupted, “remember, it’s our day. I know you feel like owning it to the Count and all, but it’s not the Treaty that matters the most. Not to me, and shouldn’t be for you, either.”
Naib entangled his hand with Norton’s pale one, as if to send his assurance within their connecting hands. Norton looked troubled for a moment, then reluctantly complied.
“Guess we’re gonna have our wedding here then.”
“How do vampires even hold a wedding?”
“Beats me. Don’t think we have one. All those tales about a Crimson Bride were about a human, anyway.”
“Then,”, Naib shifted on his chair so he could face Norton, “let’s do it my way.”
Naib took Norton’s left hand and lifted it to his forehead, the tips of the fingers gently touched Naib’s skin.
“I, Naib Subedar, commit myself to you. Be it in sickness or in health, in heaven or health, for richer, for poorer, I take you to be my beloved. I will stay by your side, until the day I have no more breath to give.”
Naib lowered their hands to his lips, then suddenly, but perhaps expectedly, he sunk his teeth on Norton’s ring finger. The dull pain gave Norton a slight chill, yet he can feel his face heated.
“This will do for now.”, Naib lifted Norton’s hand, where a crimson ring etched itself on his finger. Never to be replaced.
Naib showed his left hand to Norton, in which the vampire took shakily. Naib almost laughed out loud, but he stopped himself. He assured Norton that he could make any vow he wanted, no matter how stupid it may sound. Norton almost crushed his hand with that comment.
With a deep breath, the vampire held his beloved’s hand tightly, as if afraid to let go.
“I, Norton Campbell, commit myself to you.”, Norton planned to simply copy Naib’s vow, then thought otherwise. What kind of lover was he if he couldn’t muster a proper promise?
“I may not be worthy of your love and kindness, and I can’t guarantee you a good life. I don’t have the courage that you do,”
“But if you will have me, then until the day you take your last breath, we shall be side by side, never to be separated.”
“And we shall go together.”
The vampire lowered their connecting hands, then placed a gentle kiss on the hunter’s finger. Only the slightest of touch, but Naib felt like his finger was on fire.
“What, I don’t get a ring?”, Naib asked teasingly.
“I have fangs, you bloody idiot. I can and will bite your finger off.”, Norton smirked. “Just for now, all right.”
Only a kiss to seal the vow is left. Just as the lovers stared at each other, with nothing else in their eyes….
“Boys!!!”, there was a shout from the sky, “I’m so glad that I found you!”
Demi poked her head out from the strangest, ugliest vehicle that the two could ever imagine. How she acquired that car and how in the world could it flew, they were not keen to find out.
Demi noticed their connecting hands and positions, and awkwardly smiled.
“I’m sorry I interrupted your moment. But the peace and quiet of the two races is about to be broken any minute now, no joke!”, she winked, “out of love for you two, that is. Every cloud has a silver lining, ey?”
Naib and Norton sighed at Demi’s clumsy attempt to brush her untimely appearance. With a glance and a smile to each other, the couple hopped on the flying wheels.
“Well? How bad is it? Are they fighting already, or had they finish murdering each other off?”, Naib asked, which earn him a punch to the shoulder by Norton.
“Nice to know you’re still ill-mouthed to everyone but your dearest, Naib.”, Demi laughed heartily, “but if you want to know, be my guest!”
Demi pointed to her accompany seat, where Brooke Rose sat with all her glory and feather. A blink or twice, and the clear image of a chaotic wedding hall showed up.
Naib and Norton stifled a laugh. True enough, a wedding of this caliber could not end without one or two mishaps.
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This is just a nightmare. That was what Count Jack told himself repeatedly for the last few minutes. He has always been a trusting man, and always confident in his eyes for character. Today, for one, he wondered if he had lost his keen eyes to the time.
At the very least, he should have been wiser in entrusting the wedding to his friend. That gleeful smile should have been a huge sign of bad luck.
5 minutes earlier, when the tension and worry had almost reached the roof and the leaders on each side were centimeters away from their respective weapons, Eli decided to act true to his role of a mediator and step up. The Count was reminded on the day of the banquet, when Eli and Eli alone supported his “delusional” ideal of peace for the whole. He believed then, that such a human would always have his back. How emotions had clouded his vision. He forgot the mischievous side of Eli Clark.
“Friends, vampires and humans alike!”
The guests turned their eyes towards the priest with undivided attention, hoping for an explanation, an assurance, anything to quell their worry. Jack, too, looked at Eli with hope.
Until he noticed that smile that made his own turned wry.
“We are all filled with concern for our grooms to be, I understand. And I for one, assure you that none of us here is the culprit for their lateness.”
“Eli…!”
“For you see, the reason is right over here.”
“Sir Eli Clark, I do not approve of this…!”
Eli gave the Count a thumbs up, one he would gladly break in half.
“It is the demons.”
5 minutes later, and everything turned into chaos.
The seer had anticipated this, he must have, for he released a cackle of hungry demons at the guests without any hesitation. The bad thing was everyone was fighting for their lives. The good thing was they were fighting without taking sides. Vampires and humans took up their weapons and defended each other, their discrimination thrown aside.
Meanwhile, the Count ran frantically around to protect the decorations around the church. The fighting was contained mostly in the bench area out of considerations, but the demon bits and pieces that got blasted away had none to give.
Amid growling and clashing, there suddenly came the roar of engine. Count Jack jumped on the roof and billowed with joy.
“Finally! Our main characters are here!”
The guests only realized their presence when a rain of swords pierce the demons that got too close to the vehicle. Poked outside from the windows were, indeed, the couple of the hour.
“Really?”, Norton shouted, “Out of the frying pan, into the fire.”
“Count sure knows how to arrange a wedding.”, Naib replied.
“Let us start the ceremony, shall we?”, Eli shouted on top of the commotion. The man had remained on the venue the whole time. “The two grooms, to your guardians and receive their blessing, preferably as fast as possible.”
Naib and Norton stared at the other. With a nod, they made a bee line for their leaders, who was making quite a sight destroying their obstacles.
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Naib ran to Nidhogg’s side and plunged his knife on a demon who was trying to sneak on her. She did not even turn around.
“You may want to consider your coordinator next time, Subedar. This is a terrible wedding.”
“There won’t be a next time, chief. You know it.”. Nidhogg was caught off-guard by Naib’s serious reply. The man looked at her straight without wavering. She gave a guilty nod.
“I just want to confirm that you do not regret your decision, Subedar.”, the lady loaded up her gun, “to spend your life with an immortal - one that was in conflict with us, no less – you don’t need me to tell you the possible consequences.”
Nidhogg put her hand on Naib’s shoulder. It was to give him assurance, but it was to steady herself as well.
“I don’t want you – both of you – to regret your time on this world, however limited it might be.”, her voice was full of concern for his future.
In reply, Naib simply clasped his hand on top of hers.
“You didn’t train me to be indecisive, Chief. I knew the risk.”, Naib’s gaze was unwavering, it always had been, “and I will never regret it, not with him.”
Nidhogg took some time to let the words fill her heart, then she smiled. Her first smile ever since she stepped into the church grounds.
“Good answer, soldier. The Church shall take care of your wedding–presents.”
“A new Austin 7 would be nice.”
“Is that all? It is your only chance to suck the church dry.”, Nidhogg raised a brow, her joke fully intended.
“Careful, chief. One word to Norton and he will take all your money.”
The two hunters shared a quick smile before jumping into the midst of fighting once again.
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Bloody Sword stared in dismay at Norton’s tattered clothes. He took notice of the wound on Norton’s arm and frowned.
“A good other half shouldn’t let you be this unpresentable.”, he hissed in dismay while adjusting Norton’s clothes, uncaring of the hectic surrounding. Any time a demon tried to sneak up, it was met with a crimson blade right in the skull.
“When have I ever be presentable, Joseph?”, Norton sighed, not out of displeasure. “What, isn’t that why you never let any vampires see me?”
“You know perfectly that that is wrong.”, Joseph gently traced his hand along the wound. It quickly closed and healed.
“I know, I know.”, Norton chuckled.
They stood in silent. Norton could feel Joseph’s concern even without the Lord’s words. He knew, too. One day, Naib’s time will end, and he will have to go on. Such is the fate of an immortal. Norton had long decided what to do then.
And Joseph did not agree, not one bit. The tight grip his lord had on his arm told him all.
“Bloody Sword, please.”, Norton called out Joseph’s title, which made the vampire froze. “I’m not a child. I knew what the future hold. This might sound stupid to you, but this is what I choose.”
Joseph gazed at Norton, who was glaring back in determination. The vampire who had been by his side the longest, the one who stayed with him during conflicts and hardship, was going to go away.
If possible, Joseph would have kept him away, but he could not.
Norton had never asked him for anything, until now. He could not refuse those words. Casting away his longing, Joseph placed his hand on top of Norton’s heart.
“Anything you ask, my brethren.”
“What about a house?”
“Do not ruin this moment for me, Wanderer.”
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“Blessings granted! Now will the two grooms come before me? There are more procedures, but let’s ignore that. Too unnecessarily time-consuming for us.”
Leaving their charges behind, Norton and Naib made a beeline for the altar where Eli stood. Despite the eldritch horror that stood on their way, all the two could feel was exhilaration. From the support of their loved ones. From the excitement of their moment.
They stood together, back-to-back, shoulder by shoulder in front of the altar. They fought and dodged the waves of demons like two dancers in a waltz. Not once did their eyes waver, because they trust that their backs were covered, and they will do the same.
Eli couldn’t help but smile at that amazing sight.
“All we need left is the rings, and everyone can go wild.”, Eli shouted, “Uh…miss ringbearer, a little help?”
The ringbearer, who is Demi, frantically search her pockets upon hearing the cue. After a moment, she turned to them and awkwardly smile.
“Demi…”, Norton groaned.
“You didn’t…”, Naib frowned.
“You lost it?!”, the despaired voice came from the Count, who was wrestling with a particularly monstrous demon, “Milady, you had one job!”
“I’m sorry! It was hectic, alright, I swear I left it in my breast pocket- woah!”, her voice was cut short when one demon tried to pounce on her.
Naib raised an eyebrow at Norton and smirked. The vampire was confused at the act, when Naib took his hand. The ring of blood remained on his finger, yet to faded. Norton sighed loudly.
“Keep still, you bloody idiot.”
As careful as possible, Norton bit on Naib’s finger. He bit slowly so his fangs would not graze Naib and accidentally took the whole finger. Crimson dyed a circle, engraved on his flesh.
They raised their hands to Eli, who clapped.
“Excellent!”, Eli laughed, “Your attention, please, everyone!”
The commanding voice from the hunter-slash-temporary priest pulled every eye to the altar, humans and creatures alike. For a short moment, there was no movement. All waited in bated breath at his next word.
“I hereby pronounce Naib Subedar and Norton Campbell bounded together forever.”, Eli proudly declared, “The grooms may kiss without fear.”
From then on, everything seemed to move like a slowed recording.
The demons divert their attention to the couple. The vampire and hunters hurriedly followed suit to stop them.
On Eli’s order, Brooke Rose hovered above the lovers as their shield, her eyes shining brightly.
Norton and Naib slowly pulled themselves into a deep kiss. There is no one else in their eyes, no other noise but the sound of their hearts beating, no sensation but their body heat warping into a warm embrace.
Red petals bloomed from the demons mercilessly slayed by Nidhogg and Joseph, painting the church red.
The sound of wedding bells was drowned by the howl of beasts.
And when the kiss ended, came the cheer of happiness and victory, filling the area with joy and triumph.
Their happily ever after started then.
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Not quite. It depends on how you see a happy ending. If it is a peaceful life without strife and the unexpected, then it wouldn’t have fitted Hound and Wanderer.
It has been a year since the wedding. The couple has retreated to a small house at the edge of the woods, faraway from the world (courtesy of Bloody Sword, who gave Norton too much a dowry is supposed to be).
Naib sits lazily on the couch; his hand absentmindedly cleans the knives that have long not seen action. Norton lays his head on Naib’s lap, reading a novel the Count gave them on a visit.
The comfortable silence continues for a while longer, till Norton speaks up.
“Diligent, aren’t you? Even though you have no use of those for a while.”
Naib lifts the knife up to gaze at his beloved
“Old habits die hard. Besides, who to say we’re not getting attacked tomorrow? You have a talent of attracting bad stuff.”
“It’s my fault now, and not you being paranoid?”, Norton chuckles. He pats his pocket for a while, then take out a black envelope.
“But you might be right.”, he waved the envelope, “Come on, read it.”
Naib takes the envelope in curiosity. The seal burns and flickers wildly, obviously infused with magic. Naib swipes with his knife, revealing a similarly black letter with white, sparkling ink.
Greetings,
I have heard about your effort of connecting the humans and vampires together, Wanderer. Congratulations on your success, and I wish your marriage all the best. It is a shame that I could not attend such a historical event.
The Bloodline started with me, but I never intended for it to grow into such huge conflicts. My attempts to reconcile my people that came from me, and the people that once was mine, were all unsuccessful. Again, from the depths of my heart, I am eternally grateful.
However, with the peace between the two races settles, there remains forces who see an opportunity to invade steal the tranquility that we all long for.
I will not remain in the shadow any longer. I will fight, for my sake, and for your sake as well.
But fighting alone would be too lonesome. I doubt Bloody Sword and the other vampires are keen to see me. So, I ask of you, who has chosen to ignore the differences discrimination. You who have changed the world, as small a change as it is. I ask you to help me.
Of course, compensation is granted.
Do give my trusty friend, Wick, a shout whether you agree or not.
Sincerely,
The Embrace.
The name sparks something in Naib’s mind. The Embrace, the origins of the Bloodline, owner of the Tome, the cause of a whole lot of mess and the reason why Bloody Sword and the Count drifted apart.
(That last part, he didn’t know. Norton told him that story, claiming it to be very dramatic.)
“How much did he promise to pay you?”, Naib snickers.
“Ah, we’ll get there when I meet him. Must have a fortune if he lives that long, right?”, Norton jokingly replies. “Are you up for it?”
He asks, but there is no need for an answer. He can hear Naib’s heart pounds excitingly, the blood rushing in his veins. The internal instinct of a soldier lights his face up.
And more importantly, he is excited at the thought of fighting beside Norton again. To entrust his life completely to his beloved, and have that trust reciprocated.
“I’m in.”