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A Pippins ran through the halls of the castle, running as fast as their little legs could carry them, this place was so big, it was easy to get lost in the winding and narrow tunnels, they breathed and panted in a ragged manner as they ran through with a lantern, the castle was so dark too, sure all of it was dark here but it felt so hard to see, some of the others try to stop them, too afraid of disobeying, they couldn't blame the others.
No, they were afraid of disobeying the Count, their Master, and rightly so… The Pippins could hear him, getting closer, he wasn't running after them, he had no need to do so, they could hear his shoes clack against the stone floor, walking at a leisurely pace, he didn't need to run, he called their name, his tone was smooth, calm sounding but they knew better, they knew he was anything but calm after they screwed up that badly.
The Pippins wish they hadn't explored deeper, hadn't of explored the dungeons, for there, they found not only Darkners but a Lightner, the Darkners weren't drained dry, just enough, but that Lightner, they were bitten deeply, their body, cold and lifeless, they looked like they had been dead a while, there was no blood left in their body, all of it gone, not a drop left behind, that sight alone was too much for the Pippins, so they quit, wanting to escape.
As they run through the narrow hallways, they are panting, gasping for breath, their body is getting tired, in fact, he teases them about it "Ah… You're getting tired, come now… Why don't you go back to your room? Rest and relax, I can explain it all if you'd just… LISTEN. TO. ME." …Of course they don't, they push forward, running as fast as they can, much to his irritation, nonetheless, by the time they reach the large, intimidating double doors, the exit from this place.
The Pippin shrieks when he appears in front of them, they immediately try to run the other way but are grabbed before they can try, fangs extend and descend upon their flesh as they cry out for help . . . But nobody came.
. . . A few days later…
You had entered this Dark World, it wasn't your first rodeo in one of these, and when it appeared to you, you of course felt curious, deciding to take a look around, it's a bit hard to see at first, you need to hold your arms out in front of you to be able to see, but then in the distance, you see a light, a flickering glow, casting ominous shadows around you.
It's a lantern of sorts, you pick it up just so you're able to see a bit better now as you glance around, there's a pathway that leads up, winding up a huge hill, atop sits an absolutely gigantic castle, lightning strikes behind it, though it is not raining …Not yet, but you can tell it will soon, as much as you want to explore, you don't wanna get wet and not to mention, the eerie feeling lingering in the air.
You didn't exactly want to approach the castle just yet, but luckily, you spot a nearby town, heading that way quickly, as you stop on the outskirts, you read the sign, it says TV Town… …A bit strange but nonetheless, you head into the town, the townsfolk, the Darkners all seem surprised, wary, and almost… Worried about your presence here.
Strange, really strange… Either way, the first thing that seemed like it was actually open was a bar, heading inside, the interior is cozy, warm, lit-up, the bartender, a little pale looking guy with a blue shirt and an orange apron over it, he had eyes darker than the night sky, he was standing there polishing a glass before looking up at you, he seemed surprised, shocked perhaps, at first but then a brief look of pity spread across his face before he masked it.
Masking it behind a friendly smile "Hey there luv, the name's Ramb… It's not often we see a Lightner around these parts, can I get you anything?"
Not really a drinker, you ask if you can just get some water, he nods and grabs a bottle of water, handing it to you, you thank him and take a few sips of it before introducing yourself "Ah, that's a nice name, luv… So tell me, what brings you to this place? You stumble in where you're not supposed to like the last Lightner?"
You shake your head "Uh, no I came here willingly… This isn't my first Dark World… …Wait… What do you mean by that? Did something happen to the other Lightner?" And then the Darkners in the bar, all of them fell silent, their gazes fix on you, they all look… Scared almost, and when you glance their way, they quickly look away as if fearful of associating at all with you.
Ramb continues polishing some glasses, for a moment he's silent, he looks exhausted, as he looks around the bar before looking back at you "…The last Lightner …You see, they… Disappeared, vanished without a trace, it's been about a week since anyone's last seen them… …I told them to stay away, to get out of here and go back to the Light World but they wouldn't listen" Ramb seems… Frustrated for a moment.
"Stay away…? From what… …Is… Is it the castle on that hill out there…?" And just like that, the tension rose immediately in the bar, a Pippins from across the table looked horrified "D-Don't even mention that dreadful place!" They shriek, another says their friends went up there once and didn't come back, a Zapper chimes up, sounding disgruntled "We don't want that curse down here in our town"
Ramb then clears his throat to get your attention "It's for the best if we talk about that… Elsewhere, the patrons here get real antsy when… THAT'S mentioned…" Ramb gestures you to come into the back which you do, he lights a cigarette and puffs on it before shaking his head "It's best for you to stay away from that place, luv… That place is dangerous, it's… Evil, crawling with it, The Count himself is also a strange fellow, personally, I think he has a few screws loose"
You cross your arms, frowning as you process this information, another Lightner like yourself, stumbled here and went up to that castle and didn't come back out, and Ramb mentioning… "Count…?" You ask, Ramb sighs, puffing on his cigarette "Oi, The Count… Count AntTenna or Count Tenna… A big fellow, met him a few times …He's… Eccentric and energetic but there's something off about him… …He scares us, all of us"
You nod at this, remembering that name, as you were curious, and plus, maybe you could find out about the missing Lightner, Ramb seems to notice the look in your eye, he puts out his cigarette and walks over, placing a hand on your shoulder, he looks worried "Luv, please, listen to me, to the others… …Don't go up there, for your own safety, for your own good, leave well enough alone and go back to your own world where it's safe …Stay away from that castle."
Sighing, shaking your head "But don't you wanna know what happened to them? The Lightner? The Darkners? All of them, the only way to find out is in that castle, and I'm determined to figure out what's going on here" Ramb can see it in your eyes, he realizes there's no point in trying to talk you out of it, he reaches into his pocket and hands you something.
"What's this?" You ask, Ramb replies "A magnet, it will come in handy, trust me" …Confused but nodding, you take a hold of the magnet before pocketing it, and then you head out, heading out of the bar and back into town, the Darkners don't look your way this time, but regardless, you had a new mission, as you glance up at the castle, lightning strikes behind it, it'll probably be raining by the time you get up there.
Nonetheless, the trek begins, heading up the winding path, the winding trail that goes uphill, you knew none of the others would be willing to take you, after all, you saw how scared and paranoid they seemed, so you make the journey by yourself, lantern still in your possession so you can at least see, it takes about thirty minutes before you finally arrive, standing in front of the grand castle, it's somehow bigger up close, it feels ominous, the aura emitting from it is eerie.
It's also raining, much to your dismay, your clothes are getting wet, quickly before it pours down anymore, you grab the door knocker that is shaped like a CRT television and…
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
. . . At first there's no response, and for a moment you wonder if anyone's actually home, it seems almost abandoned but then right as you began to doubt if this castle belonged to anyone, the two doors slowly open, creaking and squeaking in an irritating and ominous way, but the scariest thing is who or what answers the door, he is HUGE…
Towering over you is a man with a television for a head, he wore a black cape with a hood up to behind his neck, he had a red suit and pants, a white shirt, yellow tie and yellow shoes on underneath the cape, his screen flickered, you can hear the low hum emitting from it, some static as well, this must be Count AntTenna… It made sense now why the town had it's name, and the door knockers shaped like that.
At first your speechless but then Tenna seems to notice something, his antennas pulse with electricity "A Lightner…? In these parts and so late into the night…" He seems to hesitate, gloved hands grip the doorframe tightly, claws digging into it, before he sighs and steps aside, gesturing grandly with a pleasant smile on his face "Come… It's raining out, you'll catch a cold if you stay in the rain like that" You hesitate but nod slowly and enter the castle, the interior is dimly lit, candelabras are all around.
The foyer, the main entrance and exit to the castle, a huge chandelier hangs overhead though it is not on, a huge winding staircase leads upstairs, many hallways that lead god knows where, it looks like you could easily get lost in this place, which heightens your anxiety, the place is also a bit… …Creepy.
Tenna closes the doors behind you once you enter, he places his arms behind his back and positions himself beside you "Isn't it grand? This is my lovely abode! It's where I spend most of my days… But I must ask…" Tenna takes a step closer, he looks down at you, a curious look on his screen "What brings a… Lightner… Here of all places? We don't often see you folks around anymore"
You nod slowly, finally snapping yourself from your thoughts, you introduce yourself first, he smiles and comments about how your name is wonderful, how it suits you which makes your face heat up slightly before thanking him "I-I'm uh, well, I heard… Some rumors, from the townspeople, I suppose I came here, looking for answers maybe"
…The atmosphere shifts momentarily, and Tenna's smile fades, there is an unreadable expression on his screen, for a moment you wonder if you offended him before he stands up straight and readjusts his tie and cape before clearing his throat, he turns away, scoffing "Ah… I figured as much… I don't get any visitors aside for those reasons… Let me guess…"
Tenna takes a deep breath before holding up a hand, a single clawed finger goes up "They said I was an odd fellow essentially, eccentric, energetic but something was off…" A second finger "They said my castle was an eerie, scary place where so many Darkners and a Lightner alike has disappeared without a trace" A third and final finger is lifted "They suspect me to be… Abnormal compared to most Darkners, yes? They talk about me as if I'm some kind of malicious entity, no?"
You swallow thickly but nod slowly, the fact he knew all that was a bit suspicious "Y-Yeah pretty much but wait… How did you-" And before you can ask, as if he's rehearsed this a hundred fold "It isn't the first time, the townsfolk like to spread rumors about me, they have for a long time, they act like I'm some sort of MONSTER… Tch, please, I'm a Tv Host, not a monster" Tenna then shakes his head before taking a deep breath.
"Enough about me though, your clothes …They are soaked, I'll have my employees tend to that" He snaps his fingers and just like that, you see some Darkners, Pippins moving, scrambling to obey, it occurs to you about that Pippins back in the bar, they had mentioned their friends going missing… You made a mental note of that before Tenna takes you by the hand, your hand is so tiny compared to his.
"Come, I'll take you to one of the guest rooms, you can stay the night until this dreadful weather passes" You try to insist that it's okay, you can head back into town but Tenna scoffs and shakes his head "No, absolutely not, you'll get sick if you go out in this awful weather, besides, I insist, I know the rumors might have you frightened of me but…" He pauses before seemingly getting an idea.
"We can make a deal on it, I'll let you stay in my castle, as long as you want, and I'll answer any questions you have, well, I'll answer them to the best of my abilities anyways and in return… I'd like to ask you about the Light World, it's… Been a long time since someone's watched me after all, so what do you say? Do we got a deal?" You think about his offer, a part of you feels hesitant, anxious even but so far, he hasn't seemed like how the other Darkners described, eccentric and energetic sure but not… Scary.
After a few moments you nod and lift your hand to shake his "Deal" Tenna seems to beam at this "Wonderful! Now, let me show you to your room…" And with that he leads you up the winding staircase, he hums a tune while heading up the steps, a hand on your back, as if to try and ensure you don't fall, you notice all the different rooms, this castle feels dizzying already but regardless, you don't need to worry about that right now as your lead into a luxurious guest room.
"This here will be where you'll stay, my employees have taken the utmost care in ensuring you'll have everything you need! Clean clothes, fresh food and water, and of course this one of the cleanest rooms in the castle …This place can get rather… Dusty, fast…" You nod "I don't doubt that actually…" You look around the room, taking in the decor, there's art on the walls of Tenna himself …A bit narcissistic but it IS his castle, either way…
The room is spacious, plenty big enough for yourself, a window overlooks a garden outside "This is… Really nice actually" Tenna seems surprised "Wait, really?" You nod and smile "It's really… Pretty, it feels cozy in a way in here" He seems to beam at your words, he smiles, his smile feels more genuine than it was before "…Thank you… …Anyways- Get some rest, I'm sure your journey has left you exhausted, we'll discuss more in the morning" And with that, he leaves, closing the door behind him.
And now it's just you, you decide to change your clothes, not wanting to be in sopping wet ones any more, the clothes are comfortable, after a few minutes of freshening up, you decide to sleep for the night, before that, as you climb into the comfortable bed, you lay there, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about all that's occured, it's… Interesting, Tenna is eccentric and energetic, but he isn't… As scary as the others seem to think he is, he's actually really nice, kind, charming, a gentleman actually.
Sure the castle still has an ominous feeling but most castles tend to just have that feeling, you think about what questions you'd ask come morning, before finally deciding to close your eyes and rest, you finally fall asleep, into a deep, peaceful sleep, no doubt aided by the soft, plush bed you're laying on.
. . .
. . .
. . .
The door slowly creaks open, though quietly so, clawed fingers come to rest on the door as it's pushed open just enough for someone to slip inside, the huge figure steps inside, steps silent despite the wood flooring, he creeps up slowly, his screen fixated on your slumbering form, his breaths are soft but heavy, his clawed hands twitch as he looms, he hesitates momentarily before getting closer.
A hand softly, delicately reaches out to tilt your head up, tilting it up until your neck is exposed to him, his hands then tremble as you shift a bit, he stills completely, not making a sound now, he waits, if you wake up now it'd be a problem …Luckily you just roll onto your back, somehow making it more perfect for him which he bites his lip at, looking at your fully exposed neck.
He leans down, slowly, getting closer and closer, his screen glows dimly across your face, he dimmed the light down purposefully as to not disturb you, as he presses his face near your neck, fangs extend, long, sharp and deadly… Poised to strike, to pierce, to drain… . . . . . And yet… He hesitates… …No, not hesitation, resistance, he resists, he clutches a clawed hand into his own form, clutching at himself tight enough to scratch his metal body under his shirt.
And just as quickly as he was about to feast, he pulls back, recoiling away from your sleeping form as if he were burned by something, he looks down at you, before looking at himself, he shakes his head, he feels disgust, and guilt creep into his systems, he can't do it, he simply can't, he quickly exits the room just as quickly as he crept into it.
…The next morning, you wake up, feeling refreshed, sitting up in bed, you yawn and stretch, glancing around the room, the castle seems a little less eerie than what it was somehow, maybe you were just feeling relaxed more than yesterday, either way, you get up, making yourself look more presentable and head downstairs, though it dawns on you, you're not entirely sure where to go, you didn't get a tour from Tenna.
One of his employees approaches you and asks you to follow them to the dining area, you nod and go with them, your eyes going slightly wide at the feast laid out for you "Master Tenna wanted us to prepare this for you, he said you might be hungry" It's… A lot but maybe he's coming to join you "O-Oh, this looks amazing… Where is he?" The employee cleared their throat "Ah, unfortunately, Master Tenna usually sleeps during the day, he's the type who does his best work at night"
"He did ask me to give you an apology for forgetting to mention that, that he knows you must be dying to ask your questions, he will be available this evening, in the meantime, he instructed us to give you a tour of the castle" You nod at this, thanking them, to which they nod at and leave you to eat, it's a bit strange …Sleeping all day…? You wonder if that's an excuse for something, but then again you didn't know what kind of work he did either, either way, you dig into the food, it's… Delicious actually.
They definitely did a good job, you eat and drink until your heart's content, though maybe a little too much… After finishing up, an employee, it's another Pippins, they ask if you're ready for a tour of the castle, when you nod, they do so as well, and thus you get taken on a tour of the entire castle, downstairs, upstairs, outside, all around… There's so many different kinds of rooms in this place, you decide to ask "How does anyone not get lost in this place? It's so big"
The employee tenses up slightly before another one elbows them harshly, shaking their head, this doesn't go unnoticed by you but regardless, you don't question it for now "Ah, well, there are some instances… Some of us got lost before but once you get used to this place, it's not as frightening as it seems" You just nod at this, listening as they explain the rooms functions and purposes, and then you see a door, you somehow manage to spot it though it was just lucky you looked that way.
"Hey, what's that room over there?" The employee looks confused but when they glance at where your gaze is, their eyes widen, sweating a bit before turning away and clearing their throat "Ahem… We don't… Go in that room… Master Tenna has instructed us to stay away from there" When you question why, one of the other employees seem to get annoyed "He says that room isn't exactly safe so he'd do the cleaning there instead of us"
…You decide to drop it rather than push but something about both of their reactions, one looking afraid, the other seeming annoyed, it's definitely not lost on you, by the time you're done exploring the castle, hours must of passed, because it's evening again before you know it, and just like that, Tenna appears, it startles you at first because of his abrupt appearance though he quickly apologizes for it "Ah, good to see you getting around, I presume my employees attended your needs properly, yes? Took you on the tour?"
You nod at this "Yep, just got finished with it" Tenna nods, smiling happily "Ah, that's good" He dismisses the employees, so now it's just the two of you "So, what do you think of the place now that you've gotten a good look at it?" You pause to think about his question before nodding in approval "This place is… Really nice actually, the reason I found this place eerie at first might've just been because it was night and storming"
Tenna nods at that, he seems surprised, like he's used to people just thinking his castle is creepy, disturbing and such as that but he has an appreciative look on his screen "I'm… DELIGHTED you think so!" He claps his hands together in a joyous manner, his plug tail sways back and forth "I understand this place can be quite confusing and sometimes perhaps a little eerie but it's home…"
Tenna turns to an open window, showcasing the darkness settling in, aside from the candles dimly lit in the castle, he looks out into the darkness fondly "I always adored the sounds at night…" You blink in confusion but when you finally focus on it, you can hear some kinds of sounds, is it the wind or something else howling…? …It sounds… …Scary, but Tenna seems to adore it, judging by the look on his screen, a clawed hand gestures outside "Ah… Listen to them… The children of the night… What sweet music they make."
You squint your eyes, did he just quote- Before you can ask him about that, he then turns back around quickly "Anyways! I suppose you want to ask questions now, yes? I'm sure you must be curious and I have kept you waiting long enough so come, let's take a seat and I will try to answer any questions you have" A nod from you, and with that, the two of you take your seats, Tenna sits across from you, placing his hands under his metaphorical chin.
You shift a bit awkwardly, swallowing thickly, right, questions, you had those, and he maybe had answers, you decide to start off with the townsfolk "So… Can I… Ask why the townspeople don't… Like you? …Er, like, I mean- why they seem so… Afraid of you?" Tenna seems to sigh at this question, he grabs a glass and a bottle of what you assume is wine, he pours some for himself, though strangely offers you none, not that you'd drink it either way but still.
"Ah… That, well… Me and the Darkners of Tv Town don't… Exactly see eye to screen, we've had many a falling outs so to speak, arguments and such as that… They seem to believe me to be some sort of monster, some sort of devil, come to terrorize them and hurt them but…" Tenna's expression shifts, he frowns and swirls his wine around in the cup before taking a sip "…I am no monster, I am simply a Tv, a Darkner like them, just trying to make it out there in our world" Tenna sighs, looking away, it's as if he didn't believe his own words.
You nod at this, for a moment your silent but then you decide to speak "…Well …For the record, I don't… Think your a monster" Tenna's gaze whips over to you, his screen fixated on your form, he seems absolutely shocked by that statement before he takes a deep breath and shakes his head "…You hardly know me and yet… You are so kind…" He seems to be contemplating something, you decide to ask another question, maybe one a bit less, well okay no it's gonna be just as heavy.
"Okay, so about the Darkners, some of them back at the bar, said their friends came up here but didn't… Come back out…" Tenna scoffs and his antennas roll dismissively, as does his hand "Tch, please, they did NOT come up here and simply vanish, I had told that fool a hundred times, their friends work for me, they wanted to, they came up here and I gave them their purpose, it's as simple as that, no more, no less"
You nod and then as you mention the missing Lightner, Tenna pauses mid sip of his drink, his antennas pulse with electricity for a moment, his clawed hand suddenly grips the table, raking deep marks across it, his other hand sets down his glass of wine, your eyes go slightly wide when he abruptly stands up to turn away from you, you fear you might of stepped across a line, but then just as suddenly, Tenna laughs and shakes his head, spinning back around, though the laugh doesn't sound joyous "Ah, so many depressing questions…! I figured you'd at LEAST have some more… LIGHT-hearted ones if you catch my drift!"
…It's odd, so at odds when he had said he'd answer any question he can, maybe he's gotten this one so many times or maybe he's been accused so many times, you decide to drop it immediately, watching as he then clears his throat "I… Apologize for that outburst… That was unbecoming of a Tv Host of my calibre, that question is just… A touchy subject… Among me and my peers" You nod and apologize for asking the question and decide to move along with something much lighter.
As you ask him about himself …Well, that was a mistake, he practically talks your ear off about himself, what he does, the whole deal of this world, though you note how he mentions how not many folks seem to watch him much anymore, he seemed kinda sad, to which you nod along at, you offer that when you go back to the Light World, you could watch him and he seems shocked but then he beams at that, he rushes to you, he's so fast you can barely blink, before you are picked up and spun around in a joyous manner.
Tenna thanks you, really hoping you'd stick to your word, you feel a bit dizzy and disoriented from getting picked up and spun around so fast like that but you smile, he seemed so happy, sure, he was talking your ear off about himself for this entire time but he finally seems to realize "Ah, my manners escape me yet again, once again my sincerest… Enough about silly ol' me… Tell me more about yourself, about what the Light World seems to be like now"
It admittedly feels a bit awkward to talk about yourself, you don't feel nearly as confident as Tenna but you aren't completely out of your element, you tell him some little things about yourself, your life, he nods, he seems to be listening with rapt attention, his screen focused on you, and as you talk about the Light World here and there, Tenna seems confused by some things but he is listening, he seems to frown a little and comment about how times truly had changed, changed without him it seems.
But regardless, he doesn't dwell on the subject, instead , once you finish talking about yourself, not taking nearly long as himself, he chimes up with a charming smile "Ah but your life, it sounds… Nice, though you seem to be going through such stress sometimes… Sounds like the Light World can be quite stressful… …But, I'd like you to know, you are welcome here in this Dark World anytime, and don't forget, television can be a great way to forget all your troubles and worries, it can be an escape of sorts"
You smile at his words and express your appreciation for his hospitality, maybe… Just maybe it wouldn't… Hurt to stay here, in the Dark World, in Tenna's castle for a BIT longer… You almost feel compelled to stay here in a weird sort of way, but of course, some thoughts linger in the back of your head, Tenna's reaction to the question of the missing Lightner.
Not to mention, you think about it, those employees from earlier mentioning a door they are not allowed to go in, their claim being it's too dangerous, you are suspicious but Tenna doesn't seem like he'd hurt anyone, he doesn't seem capable of hurting anyone, he seems so sweet, eccentric sure but that's a part of his charm.
Maybe you'd do some snooping around when they least suspect it, after all, you do wanna ensure the townsfolk they had nothing to fear if you can, and so over the course of the next few days, you go about a routine, the typical taking care of yourself, during the day you try to sneak around as Tenna sleeps all day, though luck is not on your side, you had been caught near that door but your excuse was accepted at first.
Telling the employees you simply forgot this was the door, and apologizing for being so forgetful, they buy it for a bit, at night you spend your time with Tenna, he allows you a look at his scripts he's written, the shows he's made so far, and of course if you had a suggestion he seems to be willing to hear it, the two of you get to know each other more and more each day and yet Tenna still feels like a mystery some nights.
A week passes, still no luck with that secret room, the more you were denied, the more you wanted to know just what was behind that door, what secrets lie beneath that the employees do not want you to see, what might Tenna himself be hiding, speaking of… Tonight Tenna was taking you out to the garden, he held your hand, his own large one engulfing it fully, and yet he held it as if you were a delicate treasure, leading you out to the gardens, bats seem to fly overhead in the night sky, the moon glowing brightly down to illuminate your way.
Tenna finally speaks "Ah, here we are!" He gestures grandly, there's a huge fountain, it seems to be the Dark Fountain, you… Didn't really go messing with those, but it looked pretty, ethereal even, it was surrounded by roses among many other flowers, neatly trimmed hedges that seemed like a maze, you also spotted some Forget-Me-Not flowers, such specific ones and yet it feels… Fitting for Tenna to have those, he sits down on the bench beside you.
"Isn't it beautiful? The Dark Fountain, that which gives all of us life, if it weren't for this big beauty right here, why, why might not even EXIST, let alone be so full of life…" You nod at his words "Yeah… I'm glad it does, the Dark Worlds are… Interesting, fun, this one… Truth be told, it feels really… Nice here, peaceful"
Tenna seems to beam at your words, a look of pride on his face "Ah… I'm glad you think so, if I'm being honest, I have really enjoyed your company… …You have brought a LIGHT into my life, pun intended, that no one truly has before, it's… Nice to be around someone who doesn't think you are a monster, someone who's committed heinous crimes, around someone…" Tenna's screen flickers, but you can't make out what flashed across it "Someone who doesn't CONSTANTLY think you're hiding something…"
…The way he says that makes you slightly tense up, you do feel some slight guilt, after all, you had been trying to get into that secret room all this time, you did think he was hiding something, though you didn't actually assume the worst, a part of you feels afraid, that maybe he knows but he doesn't seem to dwell on the subject, making you sigh in relief "Y-Yeah I'm sure it is… I mean …I really don't think your a monster, you've been really nice, sweet, and kind so far"
Tenna's screen flickers, for a brief moment he feels some guilt but he masks it before you can see, his screen does turn red with a blush at your words "D'aww… How sweet of you to say, I try my best to be kind and courteous to all my guests, though with how long you seem to be staying, perhaps you're considering moving in?" He jokes but he sounds almost hopeful in a way but you sigh "…I… …Well, I wouldn't NECESSARILY mind that but …I… I do need to go home at some point.
Tenna wants to scoff, to say that you didn't need the Light World, that you only needed here and you only needed him but as he thinks like that, he scolds himself mentally, he shouldn't even be getting in this deep with you, with a Lightner, the television-man bites his lip, he then clears his throat "I see." He simply says, his tone staying perfectly neutral as to not betray his true feelings on the matter.
As the two of you sit outside in the garden, sitting on the bench, Tenna talks more about this world, about how wonderful it is here, how wonderful it can be with him, you nod along with this, listening to him talk, you do talk as well, not wanting to just leave it one sided, you take a look around, the night is so peaceful, it's really pleasant and relaxing, while you're looking, you don't notice how his arm comes to rest behind your head, resting casually behind there.
Tenna's screen flickers to black, showing some static, he slowly turns his head toward you, his gaze raking across your smaller form, before ultimately landing on your neck, he had been restraining and controlling himself this entire time, his fangs extend slightly, clawed hand clenching, but the instance he sees you turning to look back at him, his screen flickers back to normal, showcasing a friendly smile.
"Ah… I'll admit to you, my star…" You blink as he calls you by a nickname he hadn't yet, he seems to realize, blushing and turning away "A-Ah, my apologies, I shouldn't-" But you interrupt, shaking your head, truth be told, your face turned slightly red as well when you heard that nickname "No no, it's fine, I… Don't mind it if you wanna call me that"
Tenna seems surprised relieved he hadn't caused offense of any kind "Right then… …As I was saying, it does get… Rather lonely, within this castle, sure, I have employees but well, they are simply such, not really… Proper conversations, just business… But you… I feel a lot less lonely around you, almost like you… Complete me…" Tenna then seems shocked, raising a hand to his own mouth "Oh, but it's… It's far too soon, that was far too forward of me- I… I…" He pauses, before seeming to get cold feet essentially.
"I-I should… Go, I-I need to write some more scripts…" He makes an excuse, before you can say anything, he rushes off, he's gone with a comical puff of smoke outlining the shape of him, when it clears, you don't see him, though you had outstretched your hand, wanting to catch him, sure, he wasn't wrong, it had only been a week so far and yet… "…I-I… …I didn't… Mind that either…" You speak it quietly to yourself, but Tenna wasn't around to hear it.
…Later that night, you had turned in for the night, it felt… A bit awkward… Some tension, as you bid Tenna a goodnight, his tone sounded strained as he replied a simple 'Goodnight' and addressed you by name, he seems… Annoyed, it might be best not to disturb him, so you headed to bed without saying anything else, laying down, you fall asleep pretty quickly, you had gotten used to such a comfortable, luxurious bed, you fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
. . . The door creaked open, Tenna walked inside, this time quick, short, and straight to the point, he clenches his clawed fist, fangs extending instantly "…I'm so sorry, but… This must be done… …I can't let you snoop around …And find out…" He trails off, shaking his head, he fights with himself but he fears he doesn't have a choice.
The Next Morning…
You wake up but immediately something is wrong… You feel lightheaded, you tried to raise up but it hit you immediately like a ton of bricks, you cringe and lay back down, blinking your eyes a few times to truly clear up your vision, the room, the walls, god… It felt like it was spinning, and the next thing you noticed, your neck, it hurt… It feels like it burns in a way, you reach a hand up to touch it, you gasp and damn near shriek as you feel two bite wounds.
You then hear footsteps rushing to your room, an employee bursts in and call out your name, asking what's wrong, but then they gasp, looking shocked, like they couldn't believe what they saw, when you weakly ask what's wrong with your neck, they swallow thickly "Y-You… O-Oh dear, I-I'll go get Master Tenna right away" They rush off after telling you not to try and move, it's a few moments later and it's so fast it startles you, Tenna rushing to your side.
"What's wrong my star? What happened?" You weakly try to speak up but you feel too drained to do that, Tenna looks across your form before his gloved hand reaches out to your neck, pausing before jerking away, his screen flickers, but you can't make out the expression, it was too sudden before Tenna instructs his employees to fetch him some bandages and disinfectant "It seems something has… Bitten you, though I'm not sure what, you have two puncture marks across your neck…"
As the employees rush back with bandages and disinfectant, Tenna takes it and leans down toward you "I'm sorry, this might sting a bit, but I promise, it'll feel much better when it's done" You weakly nod at him, and when he cleans the wound, applying the disinfectant, you whimper but one of his hands take hold of yours "Shh, shh I know, I know, just try your best to relax" He coos, and then finally he places a bandage delicately around your neck, his touch lingering there.
"There now… …You should rest here, one of my employees here will attend to your needs… While I figure out what happened…" Tenna's hand brushes against your head, he notices how weak you look, how scared and confused you seem and the look on his screen changes, he turns away so you couldn't see the guilt, he feels utterly awful, without another word Tenna exits the room.
He walks with a dejected stance, slumping posture "…I… I'm so sorry…" He mutters to himself, his voice breaks as he puts a gloved hand across his screen, his hand trembles, placing it across his mouth, he feels disgusted at himself, what felt more disgusting is how he enjoyed the taste, the rich coppery taste… He immediately shakes his head, his antennas crackling with electricity before he swiftly heads away, far away from your room.
You are stuck, confined to your bed, it hurts too much to move, you felt too dizzy and disoriented anyways, you'd surely fall if you tried, and so, laying there, looking up at the ceiling, wondering what happened, what on earth could of bitten you like this, to leave you feeling so drained, fatigued, you just didn't know, but either way, it seems you'd be stuck, confined to this room for the time being to heal, which meant you were no closer to finding out about that secret room.
During the healing period, Tenna did come to check on you, he helped feed you, he seemed to offer a lot of fruit more than anything, and water, he also helped you up, allowing you to walk around somewhat to ensure no bed sores formed or your joints didn't go stiff, he also just stayed with you, talking with you.
Though his mood seemed… Dampened, he didn't seem as cheery or eccentric as he usually was, he just seemed downtrodden if anything, when you ask him what's wrong though he simply deflects and says you should be worrying about taking care of yourself, to not worry about someone like him.
It's confusing, you don't understand… And one night while you were laying in bed, when he deflects, you finally decide to push it, because you care about him "Why do you always do that, Tens?" You had started calling him that nickname since he called you his star, you decided to use a nickname too which he seemed to like, he tilts his head, confused by your question.
"Do… What…?" He asks, and then you sigh "The whole… Deflecting thing, I noticed for the last few days, you haven't been yourself, any time I ask if you're okay, asking if you're alright, you just seem to push me away and deflect it, saying to not worry about you" Tenna sighs "You shouldn't worry about someone like me" He scoffs in his tone, looking down, you furrow your brow at this.
"But I DO worry about you, Tens, I like you, you've been so nice to me, kind, sweet… I really like you" You hesitate to express any true feelings, it felt far too soon, and as you say this, Tenna grips into himself, he is frowning "I worry about you because I care about you too, you're always helping me… So I want to help you too"
Tenna huffs and says your name instead of the cute nickname, telling you to drop it but when you don't back down and ask him to let you help him, Tenna suddenly snaps, his gaze whips around "YOU CAN'T HELP ME! NOBODY CAN 'HELP' ME! I-I DON'T NEED ANYONE'S HELP! I DON'T… D-D e s e r v e it" His screen flickers black, a bit of static, a buzzing sound, and for a brief moment you catch a glint in his mouth, of something sharp but you don't focus on it, you're too shocked by his sudden outburst.
Tenna clenches his fists, his claws slightly digging into his own metal, his screen flickers to solid black, no mouth, nothing, he slumps down, his anger dying down just as quickly as it came, then tears form on his screen, his hands begin to shake and he places them to cover his screen "I-I'm… I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I shouldn't of… I'm sorry for everything…" His tone wobbles, static crackling through it, you are still too stunned to speak but you listen to his apologies.
Tenna apologizes for things you don't even understand, you don't know what it means "I-I'm sorry for doing this to you… I'm sorry for keeping you here… I-I'm sorry yo-you FOUND this place, c-came here, I… I'm sorry y-you… You MET me… I-I'm nothing but a monster… I-" You had finally had enough, suddenly leaning forward, you wrap your arms around him in a hug "Tens, you- you haven't KEPT me here, if I wanted to leave then I would of already, and doing… This to me…? Do you mean snapping at me…?"
You pause before taking a deep breath "It… It's okay, perhaps I shouldn't of pushed too much… …But I'm not going to sit here and listen to you call yourself a monster, you are NOT a monster-" But Tenna abruptly cuts you off, he shakes his head, pulling away from your embrace as much as he'd love to stay within your warmth, he can't, the instance you hugged him, he felt an itch, so he abruptly pulls away from you, he takes a deep breath, turning away "…You don't understand me, and you never will, you don't… Know me as well as you think you do…"
Tenna then falls silent before turning to look back at you with an exhausted and saddened looking smile "(Y/N)…" He addresses you by name, his tone serious "…Go home… Go back to the Light World and forget this place ever existed… …Forget I ever existed… …Go home before…" And he pauses for a moment, before turning away from you, his tone becoming more shaky as if he's holding something back "…Before it's too late." And without another word, he strides to the exit, he ignores you when you call out his name.
…You are left there, confused, slightly hurt by this sudden shift, and left to think about all the things he said, ever since you arrived here, it had been a lot of confusion, he was right about one thing, you didn't fully understand him, but… You wanted to, you wanted to understand him, to know him, to know the real him, you weren't going to just go back to the Light World and pretend he and this place didn't exist, you cared about him too much to abandon him.
And yet… You still don't know what he means, what some of the things he was apologizing for, apologizing for doing this to you, but what exactly was… 'This' what did he mean…? You could feel a headache coming on as you try to process what just happened, trying to process and piece his words together, and him apologizing for you meeting him …It was a mystery, one you couldn't wrap your head around.
By tomorrow, you were healed up plenty, you could do things on your own, walk around, explore the castle grounds, but you noticed, despite your routine staying the same, Tenna didn't actually come out to greet you during the evening, and this pattern continued, you noticed he even seemed like he was trying to avoid when he DID see you, you caught glimpses of his strained expressions, some ranging from anger though the anger doesn't seem directed at you necessarily, sadness, among other emotions and feelings.
…Then finally, one night, you might get a chance, you still hadn't forgotten about that secret room, in fact, you wondered if maybe that room would connect all of this, if it would finally answer the questions you had carried like a burden, maybe it'd answer the question of the missing Darkners and Lightner alike, maybe it'd answer the question of why Tenna was acting the way he was, you hoped, you needed answers because it felt like you'd go insane if this kept up.
…Tonight, one of the employees had came up to you "Ah, Master Tenna has gone out for a while, he said something about needing to clear his head, he seems… Disturbed…" You nod at this "How long will he be out for?" The employee points to the clock to which you look at "He should be back around 12:00 AM… Usually the time he comes back after stuff like this" You nod and thank the employee who heads off.
…You had an hour, a whole hour, that was more than enough time, you were quick, rushing off toward that secret door, rushing down the corridor, you noticed how no employees were around either, no, they all seemed to be off cleaning or busy with all the tasks Tenna had assigned them, you are quick but you make damn sure none of them see you, and then when you peer around the corner, you can see two Pippins guarding the door.
…You had figured Tenna would of placed the Zappers by the door but it seemed the Zappers were busy elsewhere, they seemed to be needing to repair something in an emergency so it was the Pippins, they seem nervous, looking around, you can overhear them talking to each other "Wh-Why did Master Tenna leave this to US…? I-I don't know what'll h-happen if-if that Lightner sees-" The other smacks them "Shut up idiot! We-we don't know if their like, snooping around or not, we can't take a chance of them hearing us…! Master Tenna would…" They seem to swallow thickly, shaking their head.
You feel curious, so there IS something Tenna didn't want you to see down there, there is something down there, in fact, this about confirms you'll get your answers but you needed to find a way to distract them, you doubted if you approached that anything you said they'd believe, and then you see a little nook you can hide in, and a conveniently placed vase on that table, it was a pretty one and you already muttered an apology for breaking Tenna's things as you creep to the nook.
Tucking yourself back into the darkness, you snatch the item up, trying not to get lost in its craftsmanship, you then toss it as hard as you physically can, it went flying down the hall and shattered, the two Pippins yelp and immediately rush to see what the commotion was, as they do, you are quick, instantly rushing to that secret door before they see you, and there you stand in front of it, finally, you had no time to hesitate, grabbing a torch from the wall, you head inside, closing it shut behind you.
The torchlight flickers, casting shadows that dance upon the walls, eerie shadows, in fact, the moment you entered this room, the atmosphere shifted, it felt ominous, much more sinister than upstairs, you gaze down but even with torchlight, you can barely see two feet in front of you, swallowing thickly, you knew it was too late to turn back now, and besides if you did, you might not get another chance like this, and so you take the first step, then another, heading down into the darkness.
Your steps echo on the cold, stone stairs, it feels a bit colder down here, making you shiver, proceeding further, you abruptly pause halfway when you hear cacophony of groaning noises, it almost tempts you to say 'hell no' and run back upstairs but you proceed onward, until you hit the bottom step, the sounds of the groaning quiet down but then you can hear chains rattling as if something or someone's struggling.
As you approach, you notice there are a bunch of cells down here, when you shine your torchlight into them, your heart leaps into your throat when you see that there's some Darkners trapped inside, though they do have accommodations seemingly, they had mini fridges, warm, soft looking beds with blankets and sheets, they weren't the source of the chains but they did seem a bit scared.
When they notice you, they all turn to stare at you in confusion, you can hear them muttering about you being a Lightner, muttering that they hadn't seen someone like you in so long, asking how on earth you got down here, they seemed confused, cautious, and concerned, you back away, they don't seem to call out for help or anything, you look at the other cells, despite being imprisoned, all cells had comfy beds, blankets, and mini fridges, you noticed also a heater just in case.
None of them seemed chained up, sure they looked a bit nervous but none of them begged for help or escape, all eyes on you, staring in confusion, pity, and caution as you walked by, it was still somewhat creepy and you felt confused, why would Tenna do this…? You try to talk to some of the Darkners at least, deciding to ask about Tenna though they don't seem to answer anything about him, when asked if they need help, they are surprisingly chill and say no, despite how it looks their fine.
And one of them says this place is also just temporary until extra guest rooms are added, you felt a bit of relief course through you, taking a deep breath "Oh-" The Darkners nod in understanding, saying they knew how it looked from an outsider's perspective, when you asked why some of them seemed scared at first, they then admit you kinda startled them, that they hadn't seen a Lightner in a long time, they almost sounded sad about that.
You apologize for startling them and then ask why the cell doors if this is just temporary, one of them then demonstrates that the doors are in fact not locked like you first thought, it opens with a slow creaking sound, you nod at that and then they close it back …Still weird but hey, at least they aren't imprisoned, the thought of Tenna imprisoning someone, tch, that was silly, but as you proceed further, the Darkners seem to get worried, they say how you should head back upstairs, that there's nothing really down here.
…You of course don't believe that, when you explain how you're trying to ease the townsfolks nerves by finding out what happened to the missing Darkners and the missing Lightner, when you mention the missing Lightner, the mood shifts, the atmosphere turns more melancholic, they knew they couldn't stop you, one Darkner chimes up "You… Really shouldn't be down here… Please reconsider" One of them says something about how you really won't like what you find.
It concerns you, the way they seem to be pleading with you, trying to get you to drop it, saying how you'll misunderstand and then run away, though they also say they wouldn't blame you if you did, that they didn't blame anyone who ran away, you felt confused by their words but it doesn't stop you, you had come too far to turn back, and so, finally, you look to the end of the room, you see a light, it's not too bright but you'll at least be able to see as you finally reach the end of the room, no more cells.
You set the torchlight on one of the holders on the wall, heading into the room, there's some decorative chains attached to a chandelier, they are rattling from the draft in the room, your eyes then go wide as you see, there, at the end of the room, candles sit on an area that almost looks like a memorial of sorts, there's a coffin sitting there, the air grows more tense as you swallow thickly, heading toward the coffin, as you get closer you see a photo of the missing Lightner.
And not only that, you glance up, seeing a jar sit atop the shelf, above the coffin, there sits a jar, with a heart inside, not an actual heart, but it's their Soul, the soul is drained of all color, it's gray, your mind races as you process this situation before you, the missing Lightner is dead, they are dead, and in Tenna's castle, you wonder what on earth happened to them, and why Tenna had hidden it from you, was he afraid…? Maybe he was afraid of the townsfolk blaming him for it, but then again, was he… To blame for it…?
You didn't know, you wouldn't think Tenna capable of doing something heinous, surely not, feeling confused and a bit dazed from finding out the truth, you then glance over, there's a door on the far right side of this room, it looks like a closet door, curious, you had headed toward it, but the moment you got close, you cringed a bit at the smell inside, it smelled like… …Blood… As you open the door, you shriek and jump back as a Pippins falls out of the closet, their body landing on the ground with a loud thump.
Your heart races, beating fast as you stare down at the Darkner, they are clearly deceased, they seem to not have any color left in them either, you swallow thickly, putting a hand across your mouth to cover it, why… Why were they just stuffed into a closet…? This didn't make any sense, you reach down, quickly flipping them onto their back before wiping your hands, apologizing as well, and you felt your own blood turn ice cold when you see what caused their death.
…It's staring you right in the face, the cause of their death… …They were drained of all blood, the most horrific discovery, is when you look at their neck, staring at the two puncture wounds, unable to tear your wide eyes away, you stare down at the wounds before one of your hands, now beginning to tremble, reaches up to your own neck, though the bite had healed, you can still remember feeling two distinct puncture wounds, a distinct bite, though the Pippins bite had been much deeper than yours.
…The realization of why everyone was afraid of this castle, why all the townsfolk said what they did about Tenna, calling him a monster in Darkner's clothing essentially, treating him as if he's some malicious entity, all of it was beginning to make sense, too much sense, you realized in this moment what Tenna truly is… He's a…
A Vampire…
You almost immediately stumble back as that thought pops into your head, falling on your ass, you quickly scramble up, you feel sick to your stomach, for many reasons, and still, a part of you can't fathom that Tenna would actually KILL anyone, no, there, there had to be an explanation of some kind, he just didn't seem like the type and yet the evidence is there, you scramble up, as you head back toward the room with the cells, the light in the room goes out, the torchlight hanging on the wall as well.
You gasp, trying not to shriek, not wanting to startle the other Darkners, but you had wanted to ask them, they… They'd know maybe, but what if they lied…? You had too many 'what if' scenarios forming in your head, that are abruptly cut short when you hear a sound, it sounds like someone had just… Switched on an old CRT Television and then you see it, a faint glow across the room, blocking what had been the staircase back upstairs.
It's the glow of a screen… …You know who it is… …He must of gotten back earlier, he has no expression on his face right now, you can't see his mouth, not until he suddenly switches on a proper light to the basement, it makes you cringe and you need to shield your eyes, well damn you wish you had seen that before… But now's not the time to dwell on a trivial matter, no, you quickly look back at him, Tenna stands there, his arms at his sides.
Tenna's hands tremble, not with anger directed at you, no, far from it, his screen flickers a few times, showing static and a black screen, sometimes both as he slowly slumps, looking down to the floor, he looks like he's feeling everything at once, sad, upset, anger at himself, and a guilt that would crush a soul if he had one, Tenna turns away, for a few moments he doesn't speak but he can't bear to look at you "…So… …You… …Know now." He doesn't phrase it like a question.
He knows what you saw, and you had seen too much… He seems to have done this many times before, he seems to think he knows what'll happen next, as if it's a show he's performed many times, as if it's something he's rehearsed on loop "…You have your answers now." And with that he steps off to the side, gesturing up the stairs "…Go ahead and run, I know it, you're scared of me now, but I promise… I won't come after you, I won't stop you"
A part of you genuinely does, you want to run, screaming into the night at the horrific sight you just saw, to run now that you know what he is and what he's done, and yet …There's another part of you, and before you can truly think, you blurt out "…I-I… Don't have all my answers" This catches Tenna off guard, he makes an almost startled 'ah' noise, and he looks back toward you almost in disbelief and maybe distrust "…What… Did you just say…?"
For a few moments, you remained silent, weighing your options, if you ran now… You would still be left feeling confused, sure you had your answers to the whereabouts of the missing Darkners and Lightner, as to why Tenna calls himself a monster because he technically is, you think back, to how he apologized to you, for doing what he did, it hits you what he meant by that, he meant for biting your neck, that's what he was apologizing for in those regards.
This is why he said you wouldn't understand him, why he wanted you to leave, hell, he expected you to do so, especially now and yet here you stand before The Count, before the vampire himself, not running like he expected, flipping the script on him "…I-I said… …I-I don't have all my-my answers…" You repeat and Tenna tilts his head, confused, he turns fully to face you "…What… More could you want to know? You saw them, the Pippins… The Lightner…" His tone shifts when he mentions them, the sound of guilt in his tone doesn't go unnoticed.
"You know what I am now…" For emphasis, he extends his fangs, allowing you to see the sharp, deadly points, glinting in the light "You know what I've done… So… …Why… Aren't… You… Running…?" His tone gets shakier, more static filling it as if he's confused, completely gobsmacked actually, you shake your head, which just confuses him more.
"…I want to… …Hear it from you …I need you to… Be honest with me …Why…? …Why did you do… That…?" For a moment, Tenna is shocked into silence at your answer, he tries to deflect, or perhaps more like self-deprecate "Because I am a MONSTER, plain and sim-" You cut him off by saying 'bullshit' and telling him to tell the truth, that you aren't going anywhere until he tells you himself.
Tenna seems surprised by your boldness, but more or less, he is surprised you hadn't ran away from him yet, hadn't ran off to tell the town what he is, what he's done, but no, here you stand, not letting him deflect, not… …You… You're not running away, you're not assuming he is just a bloodthirsty killer, that he was malicious, and it's then, Tenna slumps, his antennas and plug tail drooping ". . .alright."
"…I… …I didn't mean to, I swear on my honor as a Tv Host, I-I… I didn't mean to… To…" He swallows thickly but a lump forms in his throat as his shaking hands reach up to grip at his head, he shakes it, he goes silent as his screen flickers to solid black, the only thing that can be seen forming are the tears dribbling down it, smoke emitting from the sides of his head "Oh… I didn't… Mean to… I-It was NOT my intent to… To… K I L L them… I… I would never… I just…" Tenna's breathing gets a bit heavier as he scratches the sides of his head.
"…I-I lost control… …I-I hadn't… Tasted Lightners blood before… And-and wh-when I did… …I-I couldn't control it… I-I tried, I really did, I don't want to KILL anyone…. …I-I can't just NOT drink blood, I-I AM a monster, literally, I don't feel guilt for eating to survive but… Th-Their blood… …I couldn't stop myself… When-when I snapped out of it…" Tenna places hand across his mouth, his screen flicking back on momentarily to show the look of disgust, anger, and loathing he felt.
"W-When I realized what I done… I-I felt so guilty… I tried to s-save them but when I saw their Soul d-drained of its color …I knew it… It was too late… …I-I carried that guilt with me ever since… And- And the Pippins ….They saw this, found out, I tried to stop them, I begged them to-to let me explain . . . But… Th-They wouldn't, in order to-to protect myself from being discovered… …I-I had to… M-My hypnotic powers w-wasn't working on them …I-I just… I shouldn't of… B-But I had no choice…" Tenna pauses, shaking his head more.
He seems to feel like that just makes him sound worse, makes him sound like more of a monster than before "…T-That's why I-I wanted to stop myself… F-From getting close to you, why I-I tried to tell you to… Go… To leave, I-I'm so SCARED of losing control on someone else… …I-I don't want to… I-I care about you, in the time we've spent together, I-I truly care about you but… I-I can't… I don't want to risk it again…"
As he grips his head tighter, claws threatening to dig fully in, you approached him, still a bit anxious but you don't hesitate to take his hands, he jumps at your sudden touch, feeling the warmth of flesh and skin against his cold, gloved metallic hands, you look up at him "…You… Really do mean that… …I can tell …You do feel genuine guilt…"
You pause for a moment before gesturing to your neck "…You… …Did you…?" When Tenna looks, he looks more guilty, looking away despite the wound being healed "…Y-Yes… B-But I didn't… d-do it out of malicious intent, please… I swear… I-I wanted to keep you from snooping be-because I thought…" Tenna swallows thickly "I-I felt so conflicted, I-I wanted you to go but a-a selfish part of me wants you to stay… …B-But I… What if I lose control…?"
"…Did you feel like you were losing control when you bit me?" Tenna blinks at your sudden question, he thinks about it, before swallowing thickly, he decides to be truthful "S-Somewhat, I could feel it but I… I practically forced myself back, I nearly broke my own screen to stop myself…" You nod at that, that at least brings you some comfort "See? …You… You did manage to control yourself"
Tenna shakes his head, his hands gripping yours tightly but gently "That- That's not the point, it was ONE time… And after tasting your blood, I-I'm STILL fighting the urge, I-I want to just sink my fangs in and-and drain you dry…" His fangs extend which makes him pull back somewhat in disgust at himself "I-I don't… Want… To… Hurt you… To KILL you…"
You take a deep breath, gripping his hands tighter "I think it is a point… …You… …I can tell you care, you really do, if you didn't, you would of killed me already, you have been resisting this entire time BECAUSE you care so much… …And truth be told, Tens, I care about you too, I care about you a lot…"
"I believe you when you say you're sorry for all of it, for killing the Lightner and Pippins, one was to protect yourself, the other was an accident… …Sure, it might not make it right, but, I can tell you feel guilt …You're… NOT a bad person… Not intentionally… Deep down you are a good person, I still think so, even despite seeing and knowing what I know now"
Tenna seems to be shocked by hearing that, and yet, it seems like he desperately needs to hear it too, considering the state he's in, the breakdown he's having, more tears pool down his screen and when you pull him into a hug, his shaking arms embrace you immediately, you can hear him sob.
And he begins to apologize repeatedly, apologizing for it all, for the outbursts, for biting you that night, for what he did to the other Lightner and the Pippins, you shush him and pat his back, trying to help him through it, he seems like he really needed to let all this out, he must of been holding all this in for so long now, you forgive him for biting you, you listen as he promises to be more honest with you from now on, that he'd hide no more secrets.
After he calms down, his screen finally turns back on, he pulls back to look down at you "…I-If you'll still stay with me that is, if… If you want to go after all this, I understand…" You shake your head and smile at him "…Nah, I think I'm fine to stick around for a while, if you'll have me…" Tenna forms a small smile, his plug tail wagging a bit "…O-Of course I will… …I… I…" He swallows thickly, before leaning in a bit closer.
His hands reach up, to gently cup your face, he seems finally ready to admit something "…I-I said I was going to be honest with you from now on …So …I think it's only fair if I finally confess what I had been trying to ignore, what I… Wanted to push away in fear… …My dear little star… In the time we had gotten to known each other… …All these days, weeks, spent together… …I felt myself growing closer and closer to you… And I… …I don't… Think I want to deny it any longer… I-I'm still scared of losing control… But it's because I don't want to lose you, it's because… Because…"
Tenna looks down at you, he smiles, a bit bigger, his screen turning red as he speaks, he addresses you by name "…I… I love you… I really do…" Your cheeks turn bright red as he says this, you really hadn't expected him to feel the same way, you wouldn't deny it, in the time you had spent with Tenna, sure it felt like a roller coaster sometimes but you wouldn't deny how you fell hard and fast for him, even now, even knowing he's a vampire, you know it could be dangerous.
Maybe messy, but you… You really didn't care or mind, you still wanted to be with him, regardless of his true nature "…Tenna …I… Love you too…" You don't even hesitate to say it back, not hesitating to lean in closer, slowly, this reminds you of your night out by the fountain, sitting on the bench, when Tenna had leaned in, though this time, you don't think he'll pull back, and you'd be right, he doesn't, Tenna gently wraps his arms around you fully, pulling you in closer, he is careful with his nose so he doesn't stab you.
And then… Finally, the two of you share a kiss, his antennas spark with electricity before forming into the shape of a heart, his plug tail does the same, his screen lights up red, your face is also red as you lean in, returning the kiss, after all that's happened, especially tonight, this made the kiss feel a lot more blissful, it definitely put both your bodies at ease, and finally, despite not wanting to release you, Tenna finally pulls back, he looks down at you, adoringly.
It's clear he still has a fear of losing control again, that is something the both of you were going to need to work on… But you were willing to help him through it, you wanted to stay with him, to be with him, and he clearly wanted the same regardless of his fear "…I love you …My dear little star…"
You smile at him, leaning against him, you feel exhausted, he seems to sense this as he scoops you up into his arms, carrying you back upstairs, back to the bedroom, once inside, he lays you down on the bed, tucking you in, making sure you're comfortable "…I love you too, Tens" His plug tail wags at that, his screen displays hearts before he climbs in beside you, too lazy to return to his own bed and truly uncaring, he wraps his arms around you, and the two of you fall into a deep sleep that quite frankly, after everything, both of you needed.