Chapter Text
i don't really remember when i first started 'taking care' of alcestis. it was most likely when she had just moved into the village - maybe a few months ago? or years? or perhaps even just weeks? the hundred years of living has taken a toll on how i perceive and process time.
what i've noticed is that she's a very quiet woman - definitely unlike most of the other vampire hunters in the area. the other ones simply cannot stop talking, or laughing, or yelling - and it gets annoying after a while. but i've gotten used to it.
the first time i saw alcestis was when she came into my - or more like robyn's - tavern. it was the first time i had ever seen such a beautiful woman - sleek jet black hair that fell down to her waist, tanned and freckled skin, dark brown eyes that pierced through myself and others around her. her face, perhaps her body too, though i couldn't tell under her cloaked figure, looked as if it was sculpted by a superior being.
"aza - pass me a pint, would you dear?"
a rough, almost growl-like command brought me back to my senses. "of course." i passed the pint over to the waiting male, before getting a quick thanks in response.
as i picked up another glass to clean, i couldn't help but look back into her direction, yet she had disappeared... but not for too long.
the day after our.. encounter.. alcestis was back in the tavern. this time, i hadn't forgotten to keep my eyes on her. she walked effortlessly with grace, her hips swaying from side to side, before i noticed her sitting down at a far away table - closer to the back of the tavern and basically out of view of the bar.
i didn't dare speak to her. something felt.. off at first. i had developed a radar for vampire hunters as they had smelt different than normal humans, yet my radar didn't fully go off for her. i knew she was a vampire hunter - of course - but she didn't seem as cruel as the others... or as human-ly as them. though that's a bold claim to make, as it implies she was one of the fae... which would be quite the insult and compliment.
but anyways, i was wrong. surprisingly.
i first learned of alcestis' name in the tavern, while overlistening to a small group's conversation.
"alcestis.. an utter bitch, i'm telling you." a nauseatingly clammy laugh erupted from some of the men. "but she gets the job done. heard the vamps call her 'the silent executioner' - cheesy huh?" a few more chuckles were taken out of the other men beside the burly one in the middle.
that was philip. i never liked him. he was a vampire hunter so obviously i couldn't like him. though even if i didn't have a reason to hate him, i probably still would've - i hated the way he talked about others, as if they were just some stepping stones for him to trod on to be more well loved.
everyone loved philip. he was seen as the loving grandpa of the village, protecting everyone from vampires and other supernatural beings even in his older years. he wasn't even just a vampire hunter - he was an exorcist, a werewolf killer, a human feared by fae and anything else related to slaughtering the supernatural. he prides himself in being able to see through people, and being able to catch these beings. makes you really question things when you're a vampire yourself yet he thinks of you as his favourite bartender. hm. what bullshit.
though i just live my life on - it's not my business. he would never find out about my identity anyways; he's too much of an idiot.
but alcestis isn't. she's an incredibly smart woman, and a great vampire hunter, who is definitely keeping something more from everyone. hence why i'm so afraid of her. she utterly terrifies me, yet intrigues me in unexplainable ways.
✦ ₊꒷꒦︶︶︶ ୨୧ ︶︶︶꒷꒦ෆ
recently, the tavern has become a social circle for the supernatural in the area. from locals - such as vampires or werewolves just passing through the village - to foreign creatures - those of yokai descent, such as oni and tengus - many seemed to stop by our tavern. it's been a more of an uncomfortable experience so far than i had expected. meeting your own kind in a world which slaughters people like you is supposed to be joyful.. right? so why do i despise stepping into the building whilst knowing the supernatural are inside?
but i have a job there. so i have to do it anyways, obviously.
as i pushed open the wooden door, i was met with the backs of the usuals i saw - oliver, richard, edith, etc, as well as some of the supernaturals. it was typically just werewolves, though if my sense of scent proved correct, then there were some disguised yokai sitting at the bar. crazy.
"azy, you're here." robyn's caring and soft smile played gently on her lips as she approached me. she flicked a butterfly loc away from her face and held onto my forearm before walking in unison with me as we headed towards the bar.
"it's quite lively today..." i murmured, which caught robyn's interest.
"mhm, sure is. haven't you heard? the other empire is having a celebration for their princess, and their borders are down completely. some of their yokai have come over too - i assumed to celebrate with us, but i guess they weren't aware of the stricter laws in the asura empire, hmm?"
"i guess not. that's quite upsetting, going to a different kingdom to have fun, just to be forced to hide away in fear." i hummed. "is mabel not here? i thought she'd at least pop in. she adores these types of environments."
robyn cast her eyes around the bustling tavern, but there seemed to be no mabel around. "she might just come in later. but anyways - i'll stay on shift with you for a little while, okay?"
"sure. no problem." robyn detached herself from my arm and started to take an order for a man waiting at the bar. hmm... a werewolf's scent.
for a while afterwards, i completely immersed myself in mixing and serving up drinks with the occasional small talk with a regular. this is how most of my days went, yet this time it was so draining. even half an hour into my shift i felt my arms getting sore, my hands moving slower and my mind getting foggier. despite robyn's small yet frequent checkups, i seemed to drift off into another universe for a second, just a second, and i-
"azy, dear. she's waiting." robyn gently poked my side with her elbow, before nodding to the person in front of me.
"right, right. sorry." i blinked a couple of times, before focusing my vision on-
alcestis! she was here. but why? i never pegged her as a very outgoing person, nor one to even favour social outings or events. it was strange seeing her monotonous self in such a bustling and colourful place.
i was staring, i think, as robyn decided to take over making alcestis drink. after checking no one was waiting, i slipped next to robyn to get a better look at alcestis.
"alcestis, are you really a fan of events like these? i never thought you'd be that kind of person." robyn moved away after i started speaking, not wanting to interrupt us.
...silence. the latter had decided against filling the empty void with chatter, or at least a huff or puff in response. her refusal to small talk with me did hurt my ego, honestly...
"..i see." i chuckled. "i guess i could see you as being a fan of these? after all, you are a great listener, and the people around us really do love to talk for ages, and ages, and ages."
it was strangely comforting - semi-talking to myself, as i was sure alcestis wasn't listening or at least didn't care about whatever i was talking about. i just adored having her cold, yet beautifully polished amber eyes on me.
then a piercing voice erupted from the left side of alcestis. it was philip. "wowie! look what we have here! aza making conversation with a customer, finally." i grimaced as some droplets of saliva burst out of his mouth as he laughed. "but it's to some bitch that won't even appreciate it. i'd pay so much money to be in your shoes right now, darling." he spoke in such a strange tone, slightly mocking, yet slightly sincere, yet slightly aggressive.
as he poked his fatty finger into alcestis' forearm, i swear i could see her visibly tense up. her scowl promptly moved away from me and onto the man next to her, and her dark brown eyes cut into him.
"don't look at me like that, cunt. you already know me well enough not to mess around with me." his voice hushed into just a murmur, yet loud enough for me to hear over the loud chattering from the other customers.
alcestis' face had twisted ever so slightly into a more terrifying version of her peaceful neutral expression. lower brows, sharpened eyes, corners of lips lowered... i stared for a second, as the other two seemed to have a glaring competition with each other.
but i knew philip too well. he wasn't a person to cower away from conflict, especially if it was with a woman. he loved getting his hands on a woman in any sense, hence why the uncomfortable silence stretched into deafening and painful silence now.
"okay, umm.." i quickly said, which got both of their attention on me. "philip, today is busy so if you're not going to buy anything, leave, please." i exited the bar from the side and gently started to usher him off his seat and away from the latter - or just out of the tavern. that would be much better.
only a few steps away was when he complained. "huh? but what about her? she didn't buy anything did she? kick her ass out too, then."
"she did, i'm afraid philip. now please, lets leave calmly with no more name calling." at his old age too. how ridiculous.
his nostrils flared. "but who said i wasn't going to buy anything, huh?! aza, quit being such a bitch and let go of me! i already get enough shit with the other females in my life!"
"philip..." my patience was soon coming to an end, and my tender hand on his back turned into a fist full of his objectively disgusting shirt. "didn't i say no more name calling? and i know you're not going to buy anything since you don't have your little gremlins with you to pay everything for you." a sudden urge to feed off him filled my soul, to drain him off his life source to get rid of him quickly. but that wouldn't be a very smart idea, considering my dear vampire hunter was back a the bar, watching all of our moves.
"argh, you..! ..all the fuckin' same." he tried to rip himself from my grip, and spat his filthy saliva onto my shoe. funnily enough, he hadn't managed to free himself, and so he wasn't able to escape as easily as he wanted. "wha- azalea, let go. now."
"no. we'll talk outside first, shall we?" i muttered, taking steps towards the door whilst he struggled in my tight grip of his shirt.
i've had enough of him. it's time to turn him into the very thing he slaughters - my thing, my people. i've grown careless, but who cares? and who cares about philip anyways? the old geezer's family was dead, and he extorted his so-called friends for their money. no one would miss him.