Chapter Text
Scott yawned. He tried to stretch but his hands were met with stone.
“Hwhat?... I'm buried, AGAIN?” He pushed the lid off his coffin. “Did I oversleep and they buried me?”
He climbed out his resting place. He noticed the familiar décor of the place. Everything looked so familiar. Like nothing had changed since he woke last year. Like vampires had never been here.
“Shelby? Drift? Is this a prank?”
Only silence answered. He noticed that he was only stage one again.
“Ugh. I'm so hungry”
He searched around and found tools and bread in the coffin.
“At least I have some tools. Now I only need to get out of here”
He walked the familiar way checking on where the rooms should have been. He was disappointed to find nothing. There were no signs they had ever lived there.
He left the crypt to find the castle in ruins again.
“Splendid job, You outdid yourself. Now come out, I'm thirsty!”
Still there was no sign and slowly Scott started to get nervous. This was getting creepy. How had they even known to put tools with him or how the ruins had looked before it was repaired. He hoped he would find answers to his question in Oakhurst. But first he had to get some breakfast.
On his way he found a few sheep and cows which he greedily slaughtered. Good thing the land around Oakhurst was his private property and nobody would annoy him about the ownership of these cows. There had been way too many incidents lately.
He arrived in Oakhurst to see three people he had expected never to meet again. Ren had died, Abolish was back with his lord and Cleo… was actually supposed to be here. Though none of them seemed to recognize him.
“Hello Stranger. What brings you to this here town?”
“I'm just looking around the place. Does either of you know the history of the castle on the far side of the bridge?”
“No, should we? Also what is your name, you haven't introduced yourself”
“My name is Scott Goldsmith and I am a vampire. I own the castle and the land around here”
“…”
Cleo burst out laughing.
“Phfaaha, you got us there mate! MilOrD, I am HUMBLED by your presence. That's a good joke! Anyways my name is Cleo, and these two are Abolish and Ren Dogmourne.”
“You should be humbled, I own this town” Scott replied arrogantly.
“Yeah right, and I believe in vampires” Cleo deadpanned.
“Do not joke about evil creatures, lest they becometh reality! Me mother warned me of such jinxes!” Ren warned.
“I take offense, vampires aren't evil. They just like to drink blood and can turn into immortal beings!” Scott pouted.
“Alright stop playing around. Have any of you noticed the shift in the air? It feels much nicer all of a sudden” Abolish brought them on the right track.
“Let's check out what it was, it's coming from over there.” Cleo said and lead the group to the town beacon.
Scott wasn't surprised to see another set of previously dead faces. Next to the beacon stood the doctor and Apo. Owen stood next to Pyro eyeing the two at the beacon distrustfully.
“Hello there. What did you do?” Cleo asked
“Apparently we sanctified a beacon. Feels good, doesn't it?” Apo supplied.
“Is anybody from here or did all of us just arrive?” Legundo asked. Silence broke out, everyone hoped someone would speak up. Scott self-importantly did
“I have come to claim my heritage. This town and these lands are owned by the Goldsmith family for generations. I permit you to reside here if you wish to”
“No, this is unclaimed land. And I am here to claim it for the military” Apo countered
“If you want to build something, you can. I don't care as long as you don't challenge me on me owning the land. I would have to search through the archives for the deed and I am not one for physical labor.” Scott argued
“Then we have an agreement,... What is your name?”
“Scott Goldsmith, pleased to meet you, Apo”
“How do you know my name?”
“I overheard it earlier” Scott shrugged “Anyways, I am looking for workers to fix up my castle. I will pay you handsomely”
He looked around, Owen and Ren looked interested. Into the silence broke a new voice.
“Hey! Are you inhabitants of this town?” It was the rest of them, Shelby, Avid, Drift, Pearl Sausage and Martyn.
“No, but introductions are in order. I am Scott Goldsmith, a vampire and Lord of these lands”
*distrustful silence* Apo, Abolish, Ren
“A vampire?!” Owen, Pearl, Avid
“Are you serious?” Pyro, Cleo, Legundo, Martyn
“Cool!” Shelby, Drift, Sausage
“Q&A starts now” Scott
Avid grabbed the stake and dove forwards, intending to kill him on the spot. “Die Monster!”
Scott caught him by the arm and twisted it making Avid drop it. “Whoa there! That was just rude! I literally didn't do anything”
“Let go of me! He's gonna bite me!” Avid screamed
Contrary to that Scott let him fall to the ground, even stepping away in a show of defiance. He straightened up.
“I am not a monster. Only actions make monsters” With that final remark he looked upon the people of Oakhurst who had been chatting excitedly.
“Wait, you're serious about being a vampire?” Cleo asked.
“I am, I can prove it if you want. Are you offering me blood?” Scott asked boldly.
Cleo flinched back. “Hell no! Can't you turn into a bat or something?”
“Fine, if it makes you believe me. Just keep him” he points at Avid “away from me” He turned into a bat. He even flew a circle around the townsfolk just for fun. He noted down mentally who looked upon him in amazement (Shelby, Sausage, Pyro), who in fear, anger or disgust (Avid, Owen, Ren) but most stared at him shocked (Cleo, Apo, Drift, Martyn, Pearl, Legs, Abolish). He turned back mid-air and floated dramatically back down. “Happy now?”
Cleo didn't answer still in shock. After a few moments of silence Scott spoke up. “That was my turn, you're next. Tell us your name and what you want us to know about yourself”
“Well, my name is Cleo and I'm a farmer. If you have any seeds, I'll plant them.” She was swarmed by people and their crops. Scott gave her the potatoes from his tomb.
“I'm next, my name is Abolish and I'm a butler.” Scott couldn't help but tease him. “I could use a butler, will you consider working for me?” Abolish firmly declined. “No, I already serve someone else.”
“My name is Renheart Dogmourne, but you may call me Ren, don'tcha know. Me tongue has been cursed by a creature of darkness.”
“I'm Legundo and I'm a doctor. Visit me if you have anything that ails you”
“I'm Apo and was sent here by the military to build up an outpost”
“I am Owen and a lumberjack. I’ll get you some supplies for the town”
“My name is Pyro and I'm writing my thesis on the history of this place”
“I’m Pearl. My parents were killed by werewolves”
“My name's Drift and I'm a detective”
“I am Avid and I am a monster hunter”
“My name is Sausage and I'm a writer under the alias ‘Mister M’ ”
“I’m Martyn. My father forgot me on the side of the road”
“I’m Shelby. I was looking for bigfoot but now I want to study all mythical creatures.”
Scott smiled softly at his oldest friend. “I could introduce you to ghosts and skeletons, to demons and sirens.” He steps closer clasping her hands in his. “May I show you my world? You don't even have to be a vampire, but it would be safer for you.” He leans close, the next words only for her ears ” I invite you into my coven as my fledgling”
Suddenly he was pulled off Shelby by a panicking Avid and Drift. “Leave her alone! She has done nothing to you!” Then he was attacked by Ren who only had a stone axe. Owen had held the others off, warning them of the powers of a vampire. The axe hurt yet it wouldn't kill him. So he ignored the pain and caught the axe on the next swing.
“I only extended an offer, I will not turn the unwilling. If I am attacked I will defend myself though and you” He let go of the stone tool ” test my patience, Ren.”
He turned away dramatically swinging his cape
”I welcome all who have an open mind for this gift I can give. I shall reside at the castle. If you wish to talk you know where to find me” He turned into a bat and flew away. When he was out of sight he turned around “Time for some lurking in the shadows.”
As a bat he hid behind the ruins of a nearby house.
Avid pulled the Doc aside to talk to him about a wound.
Cleo and Pearl planned their house together.
Owen, Pyro, Apo, Abolish and Martyn went to gather some wood.
Shelby and Drift talked about vampires.
Sausage left to write down some new ideas.
Scott decided to stalk Avid and Legs. “Have you ever heard of wounds that never heal? Of scratches that keep on bleeding? I.. have this scar that never healed, right here” Avid pulled away the bandages on his neck. “I was attacked by… I think it was a vampire. My partner, Elle, was bitten and tried to… I had to defend myself” “I have never seen anything like it, I'm sorry. I'll try to whip up some sort of cure if you don't mind waiting” Scott was intrigued. He knew the man had been sick but hadn't known what illness he had. He liked the man when he was of his kind so he decided he would help him, just this once. He turned back into his human form and stepped out of the ruins startling both humans.
“Let me have a look. I know more than you ever would about mythical wounds” Avid squeaked in surprise. “Gah-Scott! How long have you been there? Stay away from me, I don't taste good!” To prove it he shoved an entire garlic bulb down his throat. Legundo narrowed his eyes “I have a degree in medicine! I don't need your help. Why do you want to see it?”
Scott just rolled his eyes at them. “I am older and am more experienced than all of you combined. I won't touch you, I only want to satisfy my curiosity.”
“I guess… that's fine. But you stay over there!” Avid demanded. Scott nodded and Avid removed the bandages entirely. Scott looked at it as closely as Avid would permit. Which was from two blocks away. “What are your symptoms so far? Just the bleeding?”
“No…. I… I sometimes get this…. hunger that can't be satisfied by normal food. It usually goes away on it's own.”
“Interesting. I have never met someone with this affliction. But I do know a cure”
Avid’s eyes lit up with hope “Really?! What is it?”
“Why, vampirism of course!” Scott enjoyed the look of despair that fell over Avid's face.
“Vampirism is a curse, not a cure!” He whined.
“Well, come to me if you change your mind. I have the rest of your life to convince you to accept my gift, I can wait.” Scott smiled. Then he turned around, flourishing his cape and disappearing into the darkness.
He needed to gather some materials for his castle. Outside the walls he met Owen who was cutting down some trees. He was unsure if he should invite Owen into his coven again. He thought about it while he watched him work.
On the one hand Owen had killed his grand-childe, on the other he was a measly 2 centuries old. And he had slept for most of the time which would give him as much experience as a fledgling. He sighed. Shelby and Drift would be disappointed with him if he didn't give him a home and guidance. He approached Owen.
“It’s a little dark for woodwork, isn't it?”
“I can see well enough. You're Scott, right? The vampire who apparently owns the ruins of Oakhurst.”
“Indeed I am. I signed the deed 800 years ago. It should be somewhere in the archives. You are welcome to come by and peruse them anytime. Just don't damage anything important, I like to keep track my vampiric ancestry.”
“I'll keep that in mind. Did you need anything else?” Owen grumbled.
“No, I'm just checking in on everyone. Making sure they are well-fed.” Scott smirked, showing a fang. Then he walked off to get himself some lumber for the reconstruction of his home.