Archive of Our Own ^beta

Owen takes a step off the bridge and just falls under the moonlight. The stars above twinkle as if they're saying hello to him. The trees at the edge of the cliff reach out to him with their roots. They all used to be his only companions. Then he had Louis. Then he lost him as his companions watched but did nothing to stop it. Now he has an odd group of annoying fledglings with a stuck-up sire that he's sharing the area with. He's tired of it. Not the sharing but the constant longing for something he can't have and the constant glares. He's tired of being seen as one of Scott's henchmen. As if Scott would ever be his sire. 

He's getting closer to the water. Owen reaches out as if he was going to touch it but in the blink of an eye he's gone and a brown bat is flying dangerously close to the rapids. It won't be the only risk he's going to take today. 

It was a bit of a newer vampire tradition to go up to the sire of the coven you want to join and ask to spar. The reason varies from vampire to vampire but the gist of it is to see if that sire is strong enough to defend the coven and the second is more to earn a good spot in the coven. Third is to show that you aren't afraid to throw hands with anyone. This came about about four hundred years ago. Scott wouldn't exactly know about this newly made tradition but Owen- Owen knows. 

Owen knows about it all too well as his own sire told him repeatedly if he ever jumped in to defend him then it would make them look weak. He still doesn't give a rat's butt if it looks weak as he would - he would jump in to defend Louis if he were still alive. Scott's probably the same way about that. It might be the only thing the two would ever have in common other than their fangs. 

The only thing is Scott's ego. As much as he loves to play games he hates being played. If he thinks Owen is taking him for a fool then Owen can say goodbye to any form of vengeance for Louis. The other thing is that if Scott knows what this tradition is actually about then Owen- Owen might have to join the coven if Scott is impressed enough. No matter where he runs he knows Scott will continue to hunt him down and drag him back. 

The other thing is figuring out how to survive this. He won't win. That would be impossible. Scott is a lot older and being older gives you certain perks that those younger than you lack. His claws are sharper and his fangs are longer are two of those. Owen knows that his own claws are sharper than Pyro's despite the fledgling consuming more blood than him. Luckily there is one small advantage that Owen has that Scott won't even consider. The land itself might belong to Scott but the trees themselves fear the lumberjack.

It's a risk. It's a huge risk but Owen can't get those words out of his head. Pyro betrayed them and then bragged about it to him. Shelby lied to his face. They wouldn't ever try that with Scott. They wouldn't try it with him if Owen didn't have to hold back. They wouldn't try to torch him if they saw him put an axe in Scott's head. 

They wouldn't leave him behind if he could show them he's strong enough. 

Owen lands just outside the manor door. Flying around in his bat form is the safest place for him to think some days other times it's when he's putting his axe into the trees that watched him burn. Although they could do nothing to stop it they still watched just like the stars did. Just like he had. He grips his axe tighter and walks through the door. The entry hallway was starting to shape up nicely. He could hardly believe it used to be nothing but charred ruins.

He continues to walk silently towards the banquet hall. At least this time it's not flammable. He really would hate for all of his hard work to go to waste even if the humans keep burning his floors. Why do they hate floors? Owen opens the door and silently walks in. No one but Scott notices he's there like usual. Shelby and Pryo are fighting over the seat to Scott's right. Apo, somehow not a traitor anymore, and Cleo are silently judging them both for different reasons. Avid is in the seat on Scott's left. He's in Owen's seat. The seat Owen made just for him is being taken by Scott's most annoying fledgling. Apo is a very close runner-up. Scott is watching Avid stumble over his words like a toddler though a toddler would probably have better manners. 

Owen walks towards the empty chair next to Avid. He's surprised Dirft isn't sitting there and is instead sitting next to Apo while writing something down in a book. He doesn't care at the moment. He sits down in the chair silently and waits. Avid will eventually notice he's there and probably fall out of his chair. 

Scott yawns and everyone goes silent. Even Avid whom Owen didn't think he could ever shut up. 

"I'm bored." Says Scott as he props his feet up on the side of his too-big chair. In his thrown. Owen can do this. He just has to make it seem like it's not a big deal. 

"Wanna go spar then?" Asks Owen in the most dead tone he can. He can feel Scott watching him but Owen doesn't even look at him and is instead tracing the lines in the wooden table in front of him. Avid as predicted falls out of Owen's chair with a squeal. It almost makes him smile. Almost. 

"What are the rules?" Asks Scott. Owen - Owen didn't think about that part. He didn't ever think he would get this far without being staked. 

"I'm guessing claws only or do you want to use your axe?" Asks Scott. Does he want to use his axe? It would be good to throw at Scott to throw him off balance. Might buy him a minute before he's mauled. 

"One weapon each but we can use claws." Says Owen but it really feels more like a suggestion than an answer. Scott just nods his head without a snide remark. Is this even Scott? Does a bag of dirt count as a weapon?

"I do hope you're not thinking of having this sparing match in the ballroom?" Says Scott and Owen quickly shakes his head. 

"I was thinking we start in the dead woods behind the castle." Says Owen. 

"And see where we end up." Says Scott. Owen nods his head. This is a vampire fight. There's a good chance they might accidentally end up in town. 

A holy force knocks into him and Owen can't help but hiss as he feels one of their beacons going neutral. He hates them. So much.

"Apo, Avid deal with it." Says Scott. Apo stands up and disappears into a colony of bats. Avid jumps up before he disappears into a bat. Scott waits a moment until their's bat flies out. 

"Shelby keep an eye on them." Says Scott after a moment. Shelby takes in a deep breath as purple particles begin to surround her. Owen doesn't know how she can bear to breathe that often. The smell here is awful. Sure it smells decent enough. But it never leaves. Every time Owen gets a whiff he has to go shove his head underwater to get the smell out. Maybe Shelby's just gotten used to it. Shelby disappears with a slight purple glow. She loves teleporting.

"No one can interrupt." Says Owen after a second. 

"No, I don't suppose they can. If they do it would mean you win." Says Scott. Owen nods his head. It does work that way. 

"I suppose it would." Says Owen after a moment. 

"The rest of you while they're at it see if you can turn their beacon." Says Scott. The others disappear as well. It's just Owen and Scott now. 

"Are we allowed to eat?" Asks Owen after a moment. Scott hums instead of answering.

"If we did we would be fighting well into next month." Says Scott. Yeah, Owen could see that. Not a month though. He would probably only last a few extra days if anything. The exaggeration is nice though. 

"When do we start?" Asks Owen. Scott stops to think for a moment. 

"Once they all get back." Says Scott. Owen nods his head as if he didn't just agree to fight practically to the death. 

"So what are you doing again?" Asks Pyro for the second time since they all started the walk to the dead woods. Owen wants to go back to sleep already. He should've just stayed in his grave. 

"Suffering." Mutteres Cleo. Owen nods his head that's all they've been doing. 

"Yeah but-" starts Pyro again and Owen turns back to look at him.

"We." Says Owen as he points at Scott and then himself. 

"Are." Says Owen as he points at the ground because the ground has to be included in this. 

"Fighting." Says Owen as he lifts his axe. Pyro still looks confused. 

"Are you guys getting a divorce?" Asks Pyro. Owen almost drops his axe.

"No Pyro. We were never married." Says Scott from up ahead. Owen flips off Pyro before he turns around and continues walking. 

"Oh god, Pyro we're children of divorce!" Says Shelby. Owen should've stayed in the grave. It was his grave mistake to crawl out of it. 

"No!" Says Pyro. Maybe Scott will take pity on him and stake him. 

"Oh my blood, we're doomed." Says Cleo. More like Owen's doomed to be tortured for all eternity. 

"Are they really gonna fight?" Asks Apo. Owen can't tell if they're excited or not but he still nods his head. He is planning on getting beaten into the dirt today. Hopefully, he can get some good hits in. 

"Yup." Says Cleo. Cleo's great. She just answers things and that's great. 

"I'm good I'm so excited!" Says Avid. Owen's not. He wants to go beat his head against a tree and kill that tree for hurting him. 

"You guys wanna place bets?" Asks Cleo. Is he allowed to place his lot in with Scott beating the shit out of him? 

"Two blood bottles on Sire." Whispers Pyro. He can hear someone start to write. 

"Coward." Says Owen. 

"Five bottles actually." Says Pyro and Owen can feel him glaring at the back of his head. 

"That's barely anything." Says Scott from his spot in front of the group. Why are they walking? Why can't they just fly the rest of the way? Surely, the others can turn into bats now.

"Ten bottles!" Says Pyro. 

"Twenty bottles on a semi-tie." Says Shelby. Owen almost stops walking. That's- that's unexpected. He thought he would just die without anyone thinking he could win. Even if it's a tie it would still be a win for Owen. Shelby's too kind. 

"Can she do that?" Asks Pyro. Owen shrugs. He doesn't know. 

"Twenty-one on Owen." Says Apo. What is happening?

"Twenty-five on Scott." Says Avid. 

"Oh! Twenty-six on what Shelby said!" Says Drift. 

"Is that all the bets?" Asks Cleo. 

"I bet a human that I'll win." Says Scott. Owen looks up to stare at him. Oh shit.

"Scott!" Yells Shelby as if she's going to scold a thousand-year-old vampire. He really doesn't get her sometimes. Doesn't she feel that fear when he gets mad? That terror that he first felt when he realized just how old Scott was that first night. 

"Which one?" Asks Avid.

"The writer?" Says Scott. Ah. Of course, it would be Owen's old roommate. 

"Sausage." Says Drift. 

"That one." Says Scott. 

"How much further?" Asks Pyro. 

"We're there!" Says Scott as he spins around and opens his arms as if this is some grand reveal. Shelby politely starts to clap and Drift soon joins her. Avids let's out a small yay as he also begins to clap. He's gonna go bury himself. 

"Now rules for you all! You don't interfere at all or I'll cut off a finger. Yes, you can pick which one. I need each of you to stop the humans from turning any more beacons. You will also not turn any beacons until this is over." Says Scott as if he's talking to a group of small children though Owen looks around. He kind of is. 

"Now Owen and I are going to have a two-minute grace period where we walk around. Do not talk to us. Any questions?" Asks Scott. Pyro raises his hand.

"Yes?" Asks Scott.

"Why are you guys doing this?" Asks Pyro. 

"Entertainment is what you said earlier, right Owen?" Asks Scott.

"Yup." Says Owen. 

"Any more?" Asks Scott. Shelby raises her hand and Scott just points at her. 

"What if the humans get in the way?" Asks Shelby.

"Then you have all failed me." Says Scott. Owen tries to muffle his snort. 

"Is that all?" Asks Scott. Owen looks around. No one else is raising their hand.

"Going once." Says Scott. Still nothing.

"Twice." Says Scott. Nothing.

"Alright now go keep the humans busy. Shelby come here for a moment. Owen, you are welcome to go on ahead of me." Asks Scott and Owen starts running through the trees he helped to grow and will help die. He's gotta take every advantage he can if he wants to live to see the sunset. 

Owen is waiting. For obvious reasons, he would rather just watch Scott until he can find a good opening to attack. Sadly, Owen is here first for once so he's waiting for Scott to decide to come find him. It won't be long though so Owen is just walking along the shore while he listens out for Scott.

In one hand is his axe that he thankfully sharpened somewhat recently and in the other is a fistful of Scott's greatest weakness. Dirt. Owen continues to walk silently through the trees. Scott is out here. He has to be by now. He's out here hunting him down. Owen passes another tree-

'Wack!'

A tree limb hits him in the face and Owen stumbles back. It's not enough to draw blood. Rarely anything is. Great. Scott is definitely invisible and here. Owen grips his axe tighter. That tree is next on his list. At least he didn't drop the dirt. 

A giggle comes from somewhere nearby. Owen doesn't make a sound as he watches the dead leaves that are decomposing on the forest floor. Nothing moves for a moment and then he sees some leaves slightly move. The movement could have been mistaken for the wind but Owen knows damn well that a cape just moved those leaves. He grips his axe tighter before he quickly aims it. 

He's there! 

Owen throws his axe without a second thought towards the sound. It cuts through something before it hits a dying tree. Scott doesn't make a sound as his blood falls to the ground. The tree groans as the axe stays in the tree. Not the one that Scott forced to betray him but another one. He'll bury a squirrel or something for it later. 

"You managed to cut me." Says Scott from somewhere to his left. He sounds impressed and it's terrifying. Owen doesn't move but he watches the ground. 

Scott takes a step towards him and Owen takes one closer to his axe. He needs it back. Luckily he has a handful of dirt. The joys of preparation. Scott takes another step towards him. Why hasn't he just jumped at him? Is he waiting for Owen to tire himself out before attacking? It's not a bad strategy but Owen could hurt him a lot before then. What's his plan? 

Owen holds onto the dirt as Scott takes one more step. He's within striking distance now. If Owen wanted to he could try to scratch him but that wouldn't go over very well. Instead, he pretends to have heard something on his right before he throws the dirt at Scott's face and silently walks towards his axe.

"Owen!" Screams out Scott but Owen stays silent. He's right in front of him. He doesn't breathe or blink or do anything. 

His invisibility washed over him a second before Scott would have spotted him if the dirt did its job. It was odd to suddenly be able to see his hands and then to see nothing but the ground around him. When Louis described it he made it sound almost like an out-of-body experience. Owen didn't have the heart to tell him he had no idea what he was talking about.

If he went for Scott now Scott would definitely know and well Owen likes having a face that is attached to his head. It's a good thing he's not going for Scott. Owen turns around and runs towards his axe that is firmly embedded in the dead tree behind him. He can hear Scott right behind him. He jumps forward and wraps his fingers around the axe. He yanks the thing up and uses his hand to grab onto the tree and swing around it only to end up face to face with Scott jumping at him with his claws extended towards him. Owen uses his momentum to put everything he has into throwing his axe right into Scott's face. He stops moving just for a moment as his axe is impeded exactly in the middle of Scott's face.

For a moment it seems like everyone and everything stops moving. Scott falls to the ground and Owen doesn't move to take his axe back. The top of his axe almost hit the middle of Scott's scalp. There's stolen blood covering the axe, with each drop that Scott loses his hair gains back a sliver of its color that Scott despises. Scott isn't moving but Owen knows full well he won't stay down for long. Scott doesn't tap the ground. They're still going. Scott is just planning exactly what horrifying thing he's going to do in retribution. Then Scott starts to twitch as his hand snaps up to grab his axe just below the blade and pulls it out of his head. It throws it at Owen and Owen barely has time to avoid getting hit in the face with his own axe. The axe is embedded in another tree. He'll have to get two squirrels now. Scott lets out a loud growl and it takes all of Owen's will not to crumble onto the ground and beg. 

It's not in Scott's nature to accept defeat that easily. It's not in Owen's either. 

Owen hisses as loudly as he can at Scott. He knows it won't do anything but it felt good. He rips his axe out of the tree before he vanishes into a swarm of bats and flies. He'll have to find another spot to strike. Scott will have his guard up for now. It's better to wait a moment before he strikes again. 

Pyro has no idea what the hell is happening other than that he isn't allowed to interrupt no matter what he hears. Right now he's having some trouble as he can hear people fighting. No not people. Vampires fighting. Specifically, two vampires are fighting. Then it goes quiet. Is it over?

It would be nice if it were but Pyro knows his Sire. He likes to draw things out when he's bored. It's how his Sire is. It's in his nature to be that way. 

Pyro looks at the town. Two figures are walking towards him. Martyn and the doctor. Ren, Sausage, and Abolish stand on the wall watching them. Pyro turns his head to the side and just stands there with a blank look on his face. Interesting. Pyro was about to get bored and well he's starting to take after his Sire a bit. He can hear their hearts beating. It's still weird to be able to do that. It would probably hurt a bit in the capital with how crowded it gets. 

"What's all this about?" Demands Martyn. Pyro didn't expect to be confronted to be honest. He's just gonna play dumb. 

"What's what?" Asks Pyro. Not that dumb!

"This! All of you!" Yells Martyn. He doesn't see how Cleo lasted around him. He's so loud and that just hurts his ears. 

"We're enjoying the weather." Says Pyro. 

"All around town?" Asks the Doctor. Pyro nods. 

"Quit lying!" Screams Martyn. Pyro puts a hand on his chest as if he were offended. 

"I would never." He says like a liar. Martyn looks like he's going to stab him. 

"Where's Owen?" Says the Doctor. Pyro shrugs.

"I don't know. He does what he pleases." Says Pyro. He doesn't know exactly where Owen is just that he's introducing himself to the dirt with his face. 

"Where's Scott then!?" Screams Martyn. Ew. He's got food stuck in his teeth. 

"Sire is taking care of things." Says Pyro. The Doctor somehow looks even more concerned than before. Why?

"You're all Sire this and Sire that but now you won't even tell us what he's doing!" Says Martyn. Pyro nods his head.

"Why?" Asks the Doctor. 

"Why what?" Asks Pyro.

"Why do you follow him?" Asks the Doctor. Hasn't he already answered this?

"Sire is inevitable. It is pointless to continue to fight him. It's nicer to just give in. It doesn't hurt as much." Says Pyro with a shrug. Sire might be here. It doesn't matter if he is. He's done changing his answer. It wouldn't end well if he did. 

"So you're just his minion out of fear?" Asks Martyn. He looks disgusted. Pyro shakes his head. That's mostly why yes but the bond is the other reason. That and the kind moments between the stress. Once the humans are gone it'll get much better. It'll be even better when the newer ones leave. Then it'll just be the four of them again. It was better then. 

"Then why?" Asks Martyn. 

"You wouldn't understand." Says Pyro. He can hardly. The bond is a connection to each other. He can feel them and they can feel him. He could shut them out if he needs to but he can also pull them close if he tries to. He doesn't try to though. He doesn't want to risk them pulling away!

A bat is flying towards them. It flies close to the ground before it transforms into Apo. She lands gracefully on the ground but looks like she's expecting an attack. 

"Pyro." Says Apo. She sounds like a husk. She should've just given in. It's so much easier that way. It doesn't hurt as much that way. 

"Apo." Says Pyro as he stares at her for a moment. 

"What are you all talking about?" Asks Apo. 

"Their attempts to get themselves killed." Says Pyro.

"We're not gonna let them do that?" Asks Apo. Pyro stares at her. She's changed a lot. 

"He's not here. He won't know." Says Apo. Pyro shakes his head.

"He always knows. He's inevitable." Says Pyro. Apo rolls her eyes. 

"Scott never said anything about humans interrupting them." Says Apo. Pyro looks at her as if she had lost her mind. She might as well have with that idea.

"Are you joking? Please tell me you're joking. We can't just let them go and stop them!" Says Pyro. 

"Why not?" Asks Apo. 

"WHY NOT? WHY NOT?" Screams Pyro. 

"Yeah, why not?" Asks Martyn but he doesn't have any good opinions so he doesn't get a vote. 

"He'll get mad." Says Pyro in a not at all tiny voice. It sounded weak even to him but that's besides the point. 

"But why?" Asks the doctor. 

"Sire is taking care of very important business." Says Pyro.

"Which is?" Asks Martyn. 

"A divorce." Says Apo sarcastically. Pyro nods his head- wait what? Martyn looks like he's about to scream. Another bat is flying towards them.

"A divorce?" Asks Legs and Pyro nods his head. That's what they're going with now. Legs look oddly hopeful and then very confused. Wait. Oh. Legs did give Owen blood. Is Legs going to be his stepdad? Pyro might actually scream if that's the case. 

"Cut the crap." Says Martyn. 

"What are you all doing?" Asks Cleo as she sheds her bat form.

"Telling them not to go die." Says Apo with a shrug.

"Why?" Asks Cleo. Pyro wants to go back to the castle! These people are- hmm. Pyro shakes his head. 

"Sire will be mad if they get in the way!" Says Pyro. He can feel Apo's eye roll. 

"In the way of what?" Asks Martyn. 

"Scott beating the crap out of Owen." Says Cleo with a shrug. Pyro looks at her. Why?!

"Now they're gonna wanna go see!" Says Pyro as he gestures at Legs who is apparently going through a mental restart. 

"He's what?" Says Legs and for the first time Pyro knows why people are scared of doctors. That and an axe flies by his head and suddenly his Sire is there and rips it out of his own shoulder without any reaction. What-

Owen lands in the forest in front of the manor bridge. It's quiet. Maybe Scott got amnesia from that hit and forgot all about this. That would be so great. It would be really great. Owen rolls his shoulder before he starts walking into the woods. He tightens his grip on his axe as he passes tree after tree. It's weird how little the forest has changed then again trees live for a long time. Some of them- most of them are probably as old as he is. Are any of them as old as Scott? 

Owen shakes his head and begins to walk down the path. Is it a bit stupid to be walking out like this? Yes. Does he really care to change that? Yes, but he doesn't want to get smacked by a tree! He's a lumberjack! He's supposed to be smacking the trees! It's not supposed to be the other way around. 

Owen stops mid-step. He's close to town now. He didn't mean to get this close. He can hear a heartbeat beating nearby- no two hearts. Two humans Pyro. Of course, it's Pyro. Oh, it sounds like Cleo is there. Good. She's decent. 

Why aren't they in town though? He should get away from them. It would be a pain if they tried to stop them and then they would have to reschedule this. Then Owen might not get to bring his axe. A small scoff comes from somewhere in front of him. He knows that scoff.

Owen doesn't even aim before he throws his axe towards the sound and Owen can smell Scott's blood before he sees him. Scott ditches his invisibility and just stands there with an axe in his shoulder and a smile on his face. His hair is slightly bluer than it was before. 

Owen wastes no time and turns into a bat and charges at Scott. The other bats follow his lead as they all fly towards Scott's face. Scott does nothing but smile at him until they get close. Then Scott rips the axe out of his shoulder and Owen can see his bone has a chip in it from where he threw the axe. He thought he threw it harder than that. Scott without any hesitation begins to chop up any bat that gets close to him. Owen twists and turns to avoid his own blade while trying to get as close to Scott as he can. He just has to reach his back. Owen dodges another swing of the axe before he flies behind Scott. In the blink of an eye, he turns back and sticks his claws into Scott's back. He quickly opens his mouth and moves to bite down on Scott's shoulder but Scott's hand grabs his jaw before he can. His fangs sink into his own tongue instead. He can taste the blood. He's sure Scott can smell it. 

Scott hisses as he tries to grab on to him but Owen ignores that as he tries to trip up Scott by pulling him around. It's not working well but it's the thought that counts!

Sharp claws dig into his back as Scott manages to get a grip on him with one hand but the other is still keeping him from biting the prick. Owen tightens his own hold onto Scott's shoulder as Scott is now trying to pull him off. Will Scott probably be able to throw him off? Yeah, but Owen is going to make it hurt. He's just gotta hear him down bit by bit while making sure Scott never has a chance to end him. 

"You are annoyingly persistent!" Says Scott with a snarl. Owen says nothing. Scott is just trying to get him to mess up. 

"Kick his ass!" Screams someone from the trees. He can hear their heartbeat in their chest. A human then. He can't risk looking at whoever is stupid enough to get close to them.

"Unless you want to be next I suggest you get back to town. Pyro make sure he gets back. Now." Says Scott to whoever is in the trees. Owen digs his claws deeper into Scott's back until the tips of his claws can feel the ends of his ribs. 

"Owen I swear-" says Scott before Owen is suddenly being thrown over Scott's shoulder and into a tree- bat! Bat time! Owen quickly shifts into a bat and barely dodges a fun collision with a tree. Before he turns back. Scott would easily be able to take him out if he stayed in the air. At least he's still able to teleport. 

"If you destroyed my cape I will skin you." Says Scott with a hiss. Owen wipes his blood off his mouth without a word. Don't say anything. He's just trying to get you to mess up.

"Or maybe I'll just skin the doctor, you seemed to like him well enough." Says Scott. That is his kill! Don't lose it! Just keep your eyes on him and get ready to run. Scott starts walking around him and Owen quickly pushes himself off the tree to copy him. He's not leaving his back exposed for a moment. 

"Bat got your tongue?" Asks Scott. Owen keeps moving.

"You do know it is rude to say nothing?" Asks Scott. Owen scoffs. 

"You haven't said anything worth replying to." Says Owen. Keep moving. It's just like the wolves. Owen would circle them and they would follow. One wrong move and he'd be dead. He wants his axe. 

"Liar." Says Scott with that annoying smile plastered on his face. Scott takes a step towards him. Owen takes one back. Scott takes another and Owen steps over to the root that was behind him. 

Scott lunges forward and Owen moves back as fast as he can- but this is Scott. Scott has always been faster than him. His claws are going for his neck and with an accuracy that Owen can only hope to get Scott cuts through the bandages on his neck. Scott cut his bandages. Owen- think! Just think! He can teleport! If he starts now then maybe Scott won't have time to do too much damage. Owen closes his eyes and focuses on a beacon- any beacon just not the castle! Anywhere but the castle! 

"Going so soon?" Asks Scott but Owen doesn't answer as he hits the ground with a loud thump. It hurts! The claw marks burn as their shoved into the ground and Owen lets out a hiss from the pain. Not a second later claws wrap around his throat and hold him down. Owen immediately tries to pry them off his neck but he can't! A crushing weight sits on his chest. He can't get up! He can't move! 

"Won't you open your eyes?" Asks Scott in a disgustingly sweet voice that doesn't suit the other at all. Owen keeps them closed as Scott tightens his grip on his neck. It hurts! Why hasn't he teleported yet?! Why is he still here? It doesn't make any sense! Is Scott gonna take out his eyes?! Owen lets out a whine with the last of the air in his lungs as sharp claws begin to cut into the back of his neck. 

"It would be easy to snap your spine and leave you paralyzed for a bit." Says Scott and Owen can tell that bastard is smiling! 

"Luckily we both know I'm far too kind for that." Says Scott. 

"Now open your eyes or I'll squeeze your neck until you beg." Says Scott. Owen has to but he doesn't want to! Why does he want him to open his eyes that much!? The weight on his chest suddenly disappears and Owen slowly opens his eyes. Scott's not there anymore-

Scott almost - almost cheered when Owen asked him to spar. He knows that tradition and however Owen came to know about it is amazing. He has been trying everything to get Owen into his coven. He tried hinting at him picking out a room but that went over his head. He tried getting him attached to the castle which partly worked but Owen still didn't let Scott make him a part of the coven. In fact, now he just seems to want to throw himself into an expansion. Scott at that point was almost willing to beg Owen to just give in and join them. 

He didn't really want to kill him no matter how annoying he could get. Owen is so useful. He's somehow more trustworthy than his own fledglings. Funny how that happened. Additionally, he's come to care in a way about him. This whole found family thing has been quite nice in a way. Even if it's a weakness. Scott is old enough to have those. 

That and Owen was turned in his territory by some invader! Owen even took his first rest on Scott's ground. He had his first taste of blood once again in Scott's territory. In all ways other than venom Owen is quite literally Scott's. If Scott dragged the fledgling to the council they would say the same thing. Scott has been supporting him even though he was resting throughout Owen's life. Owen is one of Scott's.

No matter how hard he fights no one can change that.

He's got anger issues but that's fine. He'll grow out of it. They've got eternity. Owen is also a little turd who threw dirt at him but everyone can have some flaws as a treat. Owen's flaw is that he won't take a bath but that is going to change. If Scott has to drag him kicking and screaming that so be it. A bath is happening. 

Maybe after he knows that Owen won't try to run though as at the moment he's easily able to pinpoint the one thing that doesn't smell like him in his territory. Though if everything works out the way he wants it to Owen won't know for a long time and by then he won't even remember he wasn't always Scott's. Pyro won't say a thing and well if he does Scott has ideas. He told Shelby about how hunters always go for the ones without a coven first and how they love removing things from them. Cleo won't say a thing and the others probably won't even notice Owen was never a part of their bond. 

It's funny how they all forget their younger days as the centuries pass. No matter how hard they try to cling on to them they will forget. Owen will forget or at least he won't care by then. 

Owen sits up in a panic while gasping for air he doesn't even need. He reaches up with his hands and gently runs them over his neck. Then he blinks. He stops gasping. Scott isn't here. Owen looks around and he's in the crypt. The beacon is beside him. He can feel the small warmth it gives him. He hasn't felt warm in a long time. It's their beacon of course. It's a nice dark blood red. It makes him feel almost warm when he's this close to it. Owen reaches out and gently puts his hand on it. Even through the bandages it feels warm. Bandages- Owen reaches up and touches his neck. He hasn't had his neck exposed in a long time. It feels strange. He runs his hand over the back of his neck and feels something wet. He's still bleeding then. Owen lets out a sigh. 

He's lasted longer than he thought he would. Which is weird. Scott is so much older than him and even now he can still feel his claws on his back as if they were still there. It hurts. It hurts a lot but Owen is still standing. He's still going. He's not- he hasn't been torn limb from limb. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make any sense Scott should have ended this before he was able to put that axe in his head. Though Scott does love to play games. This is probably all a game for him or he's a masochist... 

At least it'll get the others to shut up. 

He slowly tries to stand up only to fall onto his knees. Everything hurts. Owen takes in another breath of air he doesn't need before he stands up again. His bloodied fingers brush against the beacon as he walks towards the stairs. He drags his hand along the wall as he climbs up. At least the humans were kind enough to leave the dirt behind for him. They would be upset if they knew how much he appreciates it right now. 

It's bright at the top of the stairs. Very bright. Sadly Owen doesn't have the time to waste to get his eyes to adjust. Instead, he just starts walking forward until he falls down the stairs with his feet. He squints his eyes as he carefully goes down them. He could climb up the mountain but it would be easy for Scott to see him with how sparse the trees are. He could go on the path back to town but Owen would rather avoid Scott for a moment. He could go around the mountain if he were sane. Thankfully Owen is sane despite attempts from the humans to drive him mad. 

Owen walks into the woods once again just as the sun starts to set. It's strange how different these are from the dead woods. In the dead woods, most of the bark has become almost like rock yet here their so alive. He's surprised that more science-based scholars haven't invaded to look at the plants. He's kinda happy they haven't honestly with Scott's fledgling addiction. He doesn't want to deal with even more fledglings but he has a feeling he'll deal with a bunch more. Excluding the one Avid has to turn. If he does. He touches the back of his neck. No blood. 

He keeps on walking and steps over a felled tree. Who just left a perfectly good tree out here? Owen looks at the tree and sees a small alcove underneath it. It's just barely big enough to maybe fit a person. A very large fox would have had to dig this out. It was probably killed if it was this big. Owen gives the tree a light kick. It's pretty sturdy too. 

Owen hears a voice calling out. Scott. Owen silently dives underneath the log and waits. Maybe he'll go away. 

"Owen. Where'd you go?" Calls out Scott from nearby. Owen stays silent. 

"I know you're hurt. If you come out I can end this and you can heal." Says Scott. Owen stays silent. There's no way Scott ends this quickly. Owen messed up his cape! Someone steps on the tree above him and it creaks under the weight. Owen would wince in sympathy if Scott wasn't right there! 

"Perhaps I was mistaken." Says Scott before it goes quiet. Owen stays there. He ain't moving yet. Scott's definitely still out there. He doesn't hear anything. That means nothing. 

He waits and waits until the stars come out. They're mocking him. He can feel it. What kind of vampire hides under a log in the woods!? Owen still doesn't move. It's quiet but he can hear crickets starting to chirp. He just needs to get out and get it over with. Owen slowly and quietly gets out of his hiding spot before he quickly dashes to stand in front of a tree. The trees are safe enough. Kind of. 

Footsteps! He can hear footsteps getting closer but he can't see anyone! It could be anyone! They aren't hiding! They're going to get found and Scott might think that he's attacking Owen but he's not! Someone is invisible! He can hear their footsteps. Who is it? Do they not realize that Owen is here? Owen is here and Scott is hunting him down right now. 

"Who's there?" Asks Owen but no one responds. The footsteps stop. They don't leave. 

"You need to leave before he thinks that you're me." Says Owen. He doesn't hear anything. It's gone quiet. He's here. 

Owen doesn't move. The dosen't breathe or blink or anything. Scott jumps out of the shadows towards someone that Owen can't see. He doesn't think. He doesn't stay still like he should.

He would have won if he hadn't moved.

But it was never about winning, was it?

It was never about Pyro nor was it about Shelby. This was about a sire and a fledgling. This was about something Owen doesn't know how to put into words. Some things he will never admit to needing.

Owen moves. 

He slams his body into whoever is- was invisible and Shelby falls onto the ground. Owen barely has time to turn around to face him before a hand grabs him by the neck and slams him into the ground. Scott holds him down and Owen quickly tries to slash his face with his claws but Scott is faster. Scott is painfully faster as he bites down on Owen's throat.

Shelby hits the ground hard. She doesn't even have time to stand up before she hears the scream. She turns around to look and there's Scott. There's Scott who has Owen by the neck and Owen is screaming. He's not even fighting back anymore. He's just taking it. 

She stands up and takes a step towards them. She reaches out her hand. Why does it have to hurt him?! Scott growls at her. She can't help it. Something in her refuses to let her move. She can't move! He doesn't even look at her. He's just focused on Owen who is still screaming as the white fades from his hair and that familiar brown comes back. After a moment Shelby blinks but she doesn't move. She drops her hand down to her side and turns her head away. 

"Scott?" Asks Shelby. She doesn't dare touch him or get any closer. She barely remembers her own turning but she knows Pyro wouldn't let anyone close to him. Well other than Scott but that was more because he had to. Owen didn't even try to get near her until they were halfway back to town and even then it was because she could barely walk. 

Owen reaches up a claw slowly before he taps Scott's shoulder. Scott doesn't stop right away. Instead, it almost seems like he bites down a bit harder before he finally lets Owen go. The screaming stops as Scott lets go of Owen's throat. It's over. 

"Scott?" Asks Shelby. Scott doesn't say anything. Instead, he wipes Owen's blood off his mouth with his handkerchief. 

"Do you feel it yet?" Asks Scott. Shelby doesn't know what he's talking about.

"No? Should I be feeling something?" Asks Shelby. Scott doesn't answer. Instead, he just continues to watch Owen. She can barely bring herself to look away from him. She's never seen him so relaxed. 

"Should we head back home?" Asks Shelby.

Scott doesn't move to get up. He just leans back and is now crouching over Owen. Shelby knows that look on his face. 

The way Scott is looking over Owen. The look on his face. She knows that look. It's the same one Scott gave her when she was turned. It's the same look when she told him Martyn burned her to death. It's the same look that he gave Apo when she came to the castle to join them. She used to see it on her Dad's face when she was little. She wanted to say something. To hug Owen and celebrate. Or maybe she wants to ask what happened. Even though she knows. 

But Shelby couldn't find the word she wanted to say. It's like something finally clicked with Owen. It feels like she doesn't have to be distant from him. It feels like he's really family now. He's finally fully joined them. She doesn't think Owen has noticed it. He's a bit loopy after Scott bit him and then drained him. But she can feel his presence in her mind. She doesn't reach out until she's sure he won't freak out. The first time Pyro reached out Shelby almost screamed! But she can feel him there. 

She can feel his grief, his rage, and his pain. There's so much pain. She doesn't think Owen even feels it anymore. Hopefully, he doesn't and Scott can find a way to get rid of that pain. It's Scott. He'll find a way!

Owen stumbles again and Scott rolls his eyes as he puts Owen's arm around his neck to help him stand. Owen's hair moves away from the new bite mark on his neck. It looked almost the same but Shelby knows that it's different. Owen wouldn't know. That grief and rage she can still feel from him tells her enough. Owen can't know. It's just like Scott said. No matter how much it eats her up from the inside he can't know. The pink and quickly scaring bite mark on his neck is the same as hers. It's the same as Apo's, Dirft's, Cleo's, Avid's, and Pyro's. It's Scott's mark. 

Owen is one of Scott's now. 

"Shelby. Would you tell the others to collect some bottled blood for me?" Says Scott.

"Uhh Yeah. Yeah! I can do that!" Says Shelby. Scott smiles at her. Owen groans and almost falls again. 

"Is he gonna be okay?" Asks Shelby. 

"He will be. A re-turning takes a lot of energy." Says Scott as he runs his claws through Owen's hair. She gently runs her own claws through her own hair. Owen softly hisses at him. Scott just raises an eyebrow at him and Owen goes quiet. Scott runs his fingers through Owen's hair and Owen says nothing. 

Scott then raises an eyebrow at her- oh! Shelby quickly flies off to find the others. 

Something is pressed against his lips for just a moment before it's taken away. It's empty? Owen knows it's empty. Why does he know that? He turns his head into whatever squishy thing he's lying against. 

It's dark. Owen thinks it's dark. It feels dark and it smells different. Why does it smell different? Why does it smell nice? What is happening? Why is everything soft? Owen blinks. Oh. When did he close his eyes? What even happened? Why is everything fuzzy? What? What does fuzzy mean? He's never really found out. Why is someone touching his hair? Why does it feel nice? 

A weird low sound comes out of his throat. That's new. Where did that come from? A low rumbling sound comes from whatever soft thing he's leaning against. An arm or what feels like one wraps around him and holds him close to the squishy thing. It feels nice. Owen blinks. It feels really nice. He could stay here a while longer. He does need to just check to make sure nothing bad is out there. Owen slowly turns his head out of whatever soft thing he has it pressed against and ugh. It's bright. Owen closes his eyes for a bit and then opens them. It's still bright and stupid. Owen blinks and then he squints. He looks around the blurry room. 

There are chairs and a large table. Or at least what kinda looks like chairs and a table. He knows this place. Somehow. Yeah. There are people in the chairs or not people -blurry shapes are moving in the chairs. When did they all get here? Most of them are filled except for the one on his left side that is closest to him. It's quiet in here. He's safe. There's no threat here. He's tried. Owen closes his eyes and turns his head and shoves his face back into the squishy thing. Another noise comes out of his throat and another rumble thing comes from whatever he's leaning against. It's nice. This is nice. A hand starts going through his hair again when did it stop? 

"Welcome to the Coven, Owen." Says a voice. What are they saying? He can hear them but the words don't make sense. He's tired. Maybe they'll make sense after he naps. He's just gonna rest his eyes and then he'll try to remember what happened. He was doing something. Something important and then he didn't do it. Right? What? He's tired. Another rumble comes from the squishy thing. He's tired. Too tired.

Owen closes his eyes but this time he doesn't open them up again until the sun sets once more in a sky full of stars for once they aren't laughing at him.