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This was getting painful.
Every step Pryo took, every breath he took, every encounter with someone, was a stark and painful reminder of the gnawing hunger growing louder and louder.
Somehow, he’d managed to make it through the house judging competition, despite how sluggish and nauseated he felt from having eaten nothing in the hours since he’d become a creature of the night.
He’d tried to munch on some of the food he had on hand, but it did nothing to satisfy their hunger, rather it had done the opposite. He’d nearly thrown up on his way back into town after having found nothing in the forest to eat. The only thing keeping them from losing the food they’d choked down as a substitute was that they were walking back with Apo after the whole missing Avid debacle they’d walked in on.
The journey back into Oakhurst was calm enough, at least on the outside. Pyro wasn’t entirely paying attention to what his roommate was saying. It was hard to pay attention when his entire body radiated with hunger. And being so close to Apo wasn’t helping. Pyro swore that underneath the sound of their footfalls along the path into town, he could hear the thrum of her heartbeat in his ears, quickened from the stress of Avid’s disappearance.
Soon enough though, they were both arriving at their house. Through the ache of hunger, Pyro turned at the sound of Apo’s voice once more. “I can’t believe Avid got lost.” She sighed as they passed by Martyn’s house.
Feigning normalcy, Pryo nodded, “I can’t believe that too. I mean, I just got here, so.”
Apo began rambling on as they entered the house, something about despite there being a large group of people, Avid out of everyone managed to be the only one who got lost while they were in the forest. Only half paying attention, Pyro shut the door behind them and stood closer to the wall.
”Ridiculous,” Pyro just mumbled in response, willing his body to ignore the stabbing hunger that had persisted throughout the day.
What was ridiculous was just how starved he felt, how he could barely form a coherent thought when his stomach was so empty. Scott and Owen both had neglected to really warn him about this side of vampirism.
Sure, Owen had given him a few options, and he’d barely seen Scott since the man had turned him. But the blood from animals he’d hunted in the forest earlier in the day only sustained him for so long. The hunger was never ending.
The longer he tried to maintain concentration on the conversation with Apo, the more he could hear her heartbeat in his ears, and the more ideas began rattling around in his head that got increasingly louder. Owen had seemed to be satisfied from the drink he’d taken from them that night, right? What if that’s all he needed, was just… a small bite.
”But, it seems like everyone is fine.” Apo was saying, and Pyro quickly shook the thoughts driven by hunger plaguing his mind away as they turned towards him again.
”How are you doing?” He asked quickly to change his train of thought, as if she could read his thoughts if they lingered in his mind long enough.
Apo paused for a moment, catching the subtle shift before answering, “I’m good, I just.. I don’t want anyone, you know…” They trailed off momentarily, as if she hadn’t given much thought to it until asked and was trying to find the right words.
”Getting hurt?” Pyro offered helpfully, just as Apo finished her sentence.
”Dying on my watch.”
Oh. Fuck.
Pyro tried to not let the brief panic that crossed him show on his face, especially since it was accompanied by another stabbing pang of hunger that coursed through his entire body, radiating from his stomach as their heartbeat was getting louder.
”That too.” He said instead.
”Pyro are you okay? You’re looking a little pale.” Apo asked, getting slightly closer to him and began looking him over.
Instinctively, Pyro leaned against the wall a little to steady himself, and as if Apo’s watchful eye was causing it to hurt, he put a hand over his wrist where Owen’s bite had become a little sore.
”Yeah…. yeah, I’m okay, just…. just a long day.” He stumbled, and swallowed thickly, the action almost stinging his throat with just how dry his mouth felt.
“Hey,” They said softly, “You can talk to me, if something’s wrong.” Closing the distance between them a little, she put a gentle hand on his shoulder. He imagined the action was meant to be reassuring, protective even, but it only made them panic more.
Her heartbeat in their ear was even louder now, steadier that it was before and all encompassing in his mind. “It’s my duty to take care of the people in this town, especially you, you’re my roommate after all.” Apo continued.
Pyro took a shuddering breath, and they could feel the beginning of something sharp pressing against the inside of their mouth. “I…”
Well it couldn’t hurt to just ask, right?
”Apo, I’m so… hungry.” He admitted, a sound like a pained whine accompanying it.
Her face softened a little as they backed up, and Pyro nearly chased after her right then and there as she did so. “Oh, Pyro, it’s okay.” She said, “I think there might be some carrots or something around here.”
They couldn’t help the pained chuckle that escaped him in response. “It’s not that simple.” He whined, his whole body tensing in what felt like anticipation.
It would be so easy, with her back to him right now. Apo was riffling through the lone chest in the middle of the house, next to Truffle’s pen.
No, he couldn’t just take what he wanted. He couldn’t be like them. The guilt would kill him before his hunger would. He couldn’t see them as just a meal, and the thought made him feel even more sick to his stomach than he was already feeling.
“Apo..” Pyro said, taking slow steps closer to her, willing his body to stay in control. “Apo I need you to listen to me.”
At that, she looked up and back at him, and as soon as they saw him, they gasped. Standing up, they backed up slightly. “Pyro- Pyro what… Tell me you’re joking.”
A little confused, Pyro stayed where he was. It was only then in the silence, sliding his tongue across his teeth and felt the sharp ends of his fangs, and he realised his fangs must be very visible with the anticipation of food.
“I’m not,” He nearly whined again, defeatedly and desperately, “Apo… Apo just-“
”I thought Avid was crazy! You- You’re a vampire?!” She raised her voice slightly, not getting any closer to him. But, they noticed she wasn’t backing away. And she wasn’t reaching for a weapon either.
Pyro itched the side of his neck nervously, right where Scott had bit him, where he’d turned him. “I know… look, I know. But it’s still me, I promise.” He wasn’t sure why he was begging, or when his eyes started watering, but the slight relief of her knowing what he was… well there was no going back now.
”I thought I’d be fine. I.. I thought I could just- live off the animals, you know?” He was rambling now, near fully sobbing. They could feel their legs shake as they dryly swallowed again, “But I just- I.. Apo I’m so hungry.”
The silence in the room might as well be a steak through the heart with how intense the air had become. And yet, Pyro couldn’t stop his pleading. “And I don’t want to hurt anyone- I haven’t hurt anyone, I swear!”
”Okay, okay- Pyro I believe you,” Apo finally said, and it was like a weight was lifted from his heart as she did. “What… what happened to you?” She finally took steps towards him again, slow like she was approaching a wild animal. It took a tremendous amount of willpower to keep still, despite how badly his legs shook, like they were going to give out any minute.
”I…” He couldn’t tell her about the others, about Scott and Owen. As much as he was fearful of Scott for what he did, he couldn’t betray him. Even just thinking about telling the truth about what had happened made a different pain entirely radiate through him, centered on his chest.
He couldn’t betray his sire.
“No, you know what,” Apo interrupted his thoughts, shaking their head slightly, “Don’t tell me. I believe you, Pyro.” Their tone became serious as she stood in front of him, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder.
At the contact, Pyro finally caved, hiccuping a sob that escaped his lips as his legs finally gave out. Without hesitation, Apo caught him on his way down, and together they sat on the floor, her arms wrapping around them as he sobbed.
A mix of emotions flooded Pyro. That gnawing, stabbing hunger was still present, even more intense now that they were pressed up against Apo as she practically cradled him. But there was almost a relief that replaced his guilt, now that she knew.
He could feel their hands in his hair, trying to sooth him and uncaring of his tears staining their blouse. Pyro hiccuped again as his crying slowed a bit, and quietly, he uttered, “I’m just so hungry.”
There was a long pause of silence between them, filled only by his stuttering sobs as he tried to calm himself. Then, they could feel her inhale as she sighed, “Let me help you.”
Jolting up away from her, Pyro stared with wide eyes at Apo. “Wh.. what do you mean?”
“Let me help you,” She repeated, the expression on her face hardened slightly like she’d made up her mind. “You said you were hungry, so you can-” Even if their decision had been made, they still hesitated to finish the sentence properly, but they knew what she meant.
“But,” He stammered, “but what if I take too much. What if I lose control and I-” He was almost crying again at the thought. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, not like Owen and Scott had hurt him. He couldn’t stomach the idea. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Pyro, my job is to watch over the town and the people in it. That includes you,” Apo said, reaching to grab his hands and held them in her own. “And you’re my roommate, I want to make sure that you’re okay. Even if you are a… vampire. Oh God, I can’t believe that Avid is right-”
At that, Pyro couldn’t help but laugh a little, his voice still wet from his crying. “I promise you, I’m not a monster, I’m… I’m still me.”
“I believe you,” Apo said again, letting go of his hands as she took a deep breath, “And.. I trust you.” She pulled up part of her sleeve, exposing her forearm and held out her wrist towards him. “I trust you to not hurt me. Just.. take what you need.”
Her heartbeat was so loud in his ears, and the smell of iron began to fill his nose at the exposed wrist. It took all the self control he could muster to not tackle her to the ground and just take. No, Pyro would control himself. They trusted him.
Hesitantly, he grabbed her arm and brought it closer to his mouth. In quick succession when she didn’t pull away from them, he exposed his fangs fully before biting down on Apo’s wrist.
Once his fangs broke through the flesh, he heard Apo hiss slightly and tense up a bit from the pain, but he was more concerned with the rich, iron taste of her blood on his tongue.
Feeding from animals had been easy, especially once he’d killed them and stored their meat away for later. But this was something different entirely, to taste human blood.
Drinking from Apo was like drinking water after going hours without it. Pyro could feel the warm liquid filling his throat with every swallow, and could feel the warmth beginning to fill his stomach. Slowly, that all-encompassing hunger began to die down, and it was like life was breathed back into his body now that he finally had food.
Even though his thirst was being satisfied, Pyro still couldn’t help the tears that spilled from his eyes once again. The gnawing hunger was replaced by guilt for what he was doing. Even if Apo had agreed, and trusted him, part of him mourned for what he had become. For what he was becoming.
“Pyro- Pyro.” Apo was saying sternly, her tone slightly worried, and immediately, he pulled away from her with a gasp. He scrambled away from her slightly, wiping the remains of her blood on his mouth with his sleeve.
“Sorry- I’m sorry.” He babbled, the tears still streaming down his cheeks again. “Are you okay- I’m sorry.”
Without much hesitation, Apo covered her wrist with her sleeve, pulling it down to cover up, before scooting over to him again. “Pyro I’m fine, promise,” She said gently, reaching out to pull him towards her again.
Scott would be so disappointed in me, a voice in the back of Pyro’s mind whispered, look at what you’ve been reduced to. A vampire shouldn’t behave this way.
Saying nothing of much substance in response, just babbling his apologies over and over, they just sat on the floor together again, Apo cradling the sobbing vampire as a wave of emotions came over him once again.
At least he wasn’t starving anymore.