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Like they've planned, Abolish had successfully infiltrated the vampires with the help of Avid unknowingly. Apparently from what Abolish has gathered, the main reason for Avid's lack of suspicion was because Owen had commanded him to turn whoever if they wanted to be a part of the coven. Now Abolish really didn't understand why since all the other fledglings didn't have too, but that no longer mattered. The only thing he should be focusing now was the plan.
The plan they had was simple. Get Abolish to infiltrate the vampires side and lay low for a while. While he spends his time there, he will try to find any weaknesses in the coven and make a report on the castle itself. When the time is right, and when the towns folk will have most of the beacons, they will charge at the castle. App and Abolish will switch sides and then they'll be able to all go home once they kill all the vampires. And even though the plan was extremely simple—it was almost concerning—it was the best shot they've got if lady luck was on their side.
And as of right now, the plan requires him to explore the castle and any possible escape routes or secret rooms they hold. At first it was simple and easy. Check each room when the more threatening vampires were distracted. Try to get some of the more gullible fledglings to expose the hidden rooms when he'd chat with some of them. But aside from the room beneath the beacon there wasn't anything of note in the main building. The only place to he hadn't gotten the chance to report about was the crypt.
"The crypt is off limits since we're undecided with you as of right now." Scott's imposing words rang in his head like a reminder.
Today though was a perfect opportunity to venture down stairs. There was no Scott or Owen eyeing his back, no Drift or Shelby following him around, and no Avid to snitch on him. So when the coast was clear Abolish jumped straight down the middle of the twisting stairwell.
As he walks down the gray-scale halls of the crypt, Abolish couldn't help but turn invisible as he went deeper. The moist floors littered with micro puddles and cobwebs were enough to make him paranoid, and that's ignoring the sublet noises that seem to echo back his paranoia. Each time the wind blows from the back Abolish swore he heard Scott's taunting chuckle. He knows he was entirely alone on those deafeningly quiet halls, but he couldn't help but turn invisible in case of a real threat stalking over him.
Within seconds after continuing his exploration he came across his first room. The door was quite old and raged—the wooden frame around it also seemed to be made of the same molded wood. Inside was nothing more than a dust party with dust bunnies infesting every surface on the shelves as if it were a fungus. Abolish did also take the time to check each barrel and chest, but to his disappointment it was all just left over construction materials. Moving on from that sad display Abolish would come across a few more empty rooms presumably under construction. He'd enter them for a second before quickly turning around after realizing it was probably Shelby's room he'd come across. By the time his invisibility was about to wear off, Abolish was silently making his way to he next room.
It was different from the others he came across before. The door to this one was slightly ajar letting the soft orange lighting of a flame shine through. Mute grunts whispered past the cracks of the door; almost sounding like a man trying to hide their struggles.
"Who could be here now? I thought everyone was out getting the beacons?" Abolish raised a brow as he tiptoed his way to the door.
He stole a peek through the gaps in the door, trying to see who his new problem be. At first all he saw was their bare back. A golden caramel colored skin if they weren't drained from blood. Patches of freckle were littered all over their shoulders and arms generously. Then their burnt umber hair caught his eye. The way it poured down their shoulders like a waterfall complemented their lean, yet strong, body. They looked divine under that tinted light to say the least; that only made it more embarrassing once he was called out.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you that it's rude to stare." Their voice hummed through the paper thin silence with an edge.
Abolish took a weary step back. How could have they known he was there? Last time he checked the invisibility hasn't worn off just yet. And more importantly, OWEN?!?!
How did he not recognize him any sooner. Owen was the only thing in that town to have freckles and wavy hair like that. Was it the hair that threw him off? because last time he'd seen Owen, they were all gray and white.
Wait a minute...
Why wasn't Owen in his final form? Before he had left the castle with Apo he was one of the strongest if not the strongest. But then he looked a little further; there on the right side of their lower back was a stake wedged deep inside. Abolish was so mesmerized caught up on who it might've been, he failed to see the reason why someone might have been there in the first place. After regaining his confidence Abolish gently opens the door, no longer invisible as he did since there was no need. Seeing the puncture much clearer made Abolish's stomach churn—which was strange because Abolish wasn't the type to grimace at an open wound. "So are you here to finish me off now?" The elder vampire struggles to groan, not bothering to face Abolish as he spoke. "What? No, I don't even know what you're talking about."
"Liar, I know you have a stake ready for me. And what other reason would you be here after I get attacked by the town?"
Abolish sneaks ever so closer to Owen before contemplating on whether Owen deserves his kindness. It's true he had a stake he could kill him with. But seeing Owen like this, bruised, hurting, and probably shaken from a near Death experience, just twisted a knife he didn't know was there.
"Owen," Abolish takes a step closer to rest his hand on their shoulder. "I'm not here to hurt you. If anything I want to help you."
The brunet lets out a haughty laugh that plunges the stake deeper into his back. Owen's scared shoulder stiffened as if his body was rejecting the idea that maybe, just maybe, Abolish really had no intentions of ending him (not right now at the very least). If it weren't for Abolish's hand on his shoulder, Owen might have thought he was talking to Legundo or even Louis. Funny how three drastically different people could give Owen the feeling of déjà vu. He might even start thinking that maybe they're related in a way—Scott did have a point when he said Owen failed to kill everybody in the town 200 years ago.
"You don't really expect me to believe you right?" Owen coughs out bitterly before finally turning to face Abolish.
For a crude, joyless vampire Owen looked so fragile. Delicate in a way that made him look like a piece of art in needing to be preserved. How could a cruel vampire, that massacred hundreds of people years ago, look so lovable? Abolish did not know. But seeing them give up so easily earned Abolish's sympathy.
"I don't expect you to believe me and I'm not going to ask you to. All I'm saying is if you are willing to accept, I will help you."
Owen lowered his head as he bit into his lower lip. It was a cruel joke how similar Abolish was to Louis—even more so than Legundo he'd say. Just looking at Abolish was a painful reminder because somehow, some way they felt too familiar. Familiar just as Louis was familiar with him. Now with that similarity in mind, there would be no world of Owen rejecting Abolish's offer to help.
Not when he can pretend it wasn't Abolish coddling him, but his dear mayor instead. With a heavy sigh Owen had caved in, "Alright. Do as you will."
He faced the wall to leave his back open to Abolish, partially hoping that today wasn't going to be his funeral. Gingerly Abolish swept Owen's hickory hair aside before handing him a hankerchief lightly drenched in blood. At first Owen had raised a brow, wondering as to why the young vampire would hand him a squishy hankerchief oozing with blood, but unsurprisingly Abolish was a word ahead of him.
"You'll need that to bite on that while I take out the stake. Tell me when you're ready." Abolish waited for Owen to bite down on the cloth, but seeing how they hesitated to listen Abolish gingerly rubbed small circles around their back. Round and round, he calmed over every tensed muscle and every imperfection on Owen's back. Owen took a sharp breath in at the sweet softness he hadn't sought after in years. So despite his worries bubbling up over the surface he regained his emo and cold exterior to pretend he was acostumed to the pain that was about to come. His teeth sunk onto the wet surface of the cloth, blood flowed into this mouth like a treat to keep him calm.
"Just close your eyes and focus on my voice," His free hand went down to hold the blunt end of the stake, yet his other hand still kept in motion. "I will help you, and I will protect you from now on. I promise you that with every atom in my body. And I will kill the people who did this to you. Town or not. You are the most precious this in my undead life."
He knew those words were only lies told to comfort Owen, but something told him it was true to a degree.
Admits one of those comforting words Abolish fixed his grip before pulling on the stick. Wet splotching noises filled the room with sounds similar to skin ripping following closely. Owen's muffled grunts and moans overlapped with all the other noise, making an orchestra of pained cries. Spoiled blood poured out of the gawking wound like an open faucet, staining the wood beneath them crimson. And in a feeble attempt to keep the blood from pouring while Owen's body naturally heals up, Abolish had held his hand over the puncture. "I should've told him to lay down..." He cursed in his mind as his pearly white gloves were turned burgundy the second. But even with blood gushing out more than he would like, Abolish could see the wound close up in itself as it healed. It was much slower than a level three vampire would, but Owen was healing. That's all that matters.