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Thankfully, It was another one of those weeks. The days that the beacons would freeze and no consecration or desecration were possible. The days the town and castle both kept to themselves for a bit. It felt like a quiet ceasefire though it was kind of forced by the unnatural forces that took ahold of them when they entered this place.
Legundo couldn't be more thankful though. Taking some time to just gather materials and go through the motions was better than the toll all the strategizing, healing and fighting took on him.
It suited him, though he didn't want it to. He hated being fit back into that mold of a soldier.
It was always waiting within him.
It was so uncomfortable.
The doctor was on a bit of a risky mission even with the relatively peaceful atmosphere. Abolish said that the caves underneath the castle would have the most silver, untouched due to their burning aspect to the dark creatures. And they need it now more than ever. It was supposed to be a quick dig under and a tunnel back to town. He wasn't about to mine silver alone under the castle.
Though, out of all the things the doctor could've come across on his journey, he didn't expect this.
A few noises set alarms off during his walk. Legundo hid behind a wall of earth and his ears caught onto some familiar voices.
"-But how do we know that? How do we know that... That we're safe?"
It was Drift. He'd never thought she'd side with the castle but if she felt unsafe there...
"After what they did to Avid, I can't trust them anymore."
Shelby, Ofcourse she couldn't. If they were alone, maybe he could—
"I'm not asking you to, infact, you definitely shouldn't."
Scott. He was there. Crap. Even when he tries, the doctor has to force a cure instead. The time isn't right, it's best to flee—but they hadn't noticed him. This could be good information too.
"Just don't let them know that you don't trust them. Don't be alone with the two of them and always have me or Cleo with you. If not, then eachother."
It took the doctor a moment to piece together the story. "They", so it wasn't just Owen who killed Avid. By process of elimination, It was probably Pyro too then. Shelby and Drift don't feel safe, that's good, the town can cure them and protect them instead. But what was Scott on about?
"Okay... I think we can do that."
Drift sounded hesitant but trusting. She shouldn't be trusting someone like Scott. Is this why she left town? Did she fall for Scott's lies?
But. As much as he hated to, he had to admit. If Scott was giving advice on how they should avoid Pyro and Owen after they staked Avid... This wasn't bad advice.
But why would he do that?
During the brief silence, Shelby's voice broke the ice, shaky and scared.
"Scott, can I be honest?"
Scott nodded, outside of the doctor's vision.
Out of his better judgement, the doctor took a hesitant look from the corner of the hill he stood behind.
"I'm scared- I'm really scared- I- they killed Avid when he was just level one and kept saying that he was a liability and weak—what if they think that about me or Drift?"
Shelby, who just a few days ago attacked the town beside the whole coven, looked so much more human. To see them grieving over their friend that was lost to the cruel monsters he so foolishly tried to give a second chance to, it hurt to see.
"Yeah, I mean- they knew that was my best friend... They- they never even told any of us."
Drift sounded distraught and betrayed, her expression the same. Yet it began to match Shelby's as both their eyes filled up with tears.
"They killed our friend. And now that we don't like them after that, they want us dead too."
Shelby stated behind grit fangs and choked tears.
If only the doctor could get them alone to talk to them. Tell them he can help them. That he can save them and that they could help the town and help the rest of their friends live too...
Would be nice, wouldn't it? Had they not considered that manipulative scum their friend.
"They won't. I'll make sure of that."
Said the aforementioned manipulative scum.
"And if they try, I'll make sure they won't even get the chance to ever again."
Said the aforementioned manipulative scum??
Scott, despite having lived up to his deceitful and selfish ideals until now, wrapped his arms around Drift and Shelby. His black cloak covered the three of them like a shield.
Yes. He was clearly manipulating them. Pyro is his fledgeling and Owen... Is Owen. Scott hated Avid too. The three of them probably wanted him gone. And now Scott is using Pyro and Owen to make Shelby and Drift trust Scott so that they don't turn on them. Manipulating those poor girls to keep their numbers satiated, How sick.
Yet, the expression on his face was... genuine. It made a silent protective promise as the two younger vampires sobbed into his arms.
It was human.
Why was it human.
Why was Scott of all people...
Kind?
Caring?
So full of... worry.
With a strong determination to keep those close to him safe from the others closer to him.
Which were Owen and Pyro.
Two people he attempted to save from the hands of this white-haired bastard.
Scott pulled away from the hug, he took a glance at the wet spots on his cloak, though he paid them no mind.
"S-sorry..."
"It's fine."
Scott wiped the tears out of his fledgeling's eyes. Careful to not let his claws harm her.
"Why don't you two stick together and look for Cleo? I have... some business to attend to."
Shelby wiped the remnants of her tears with her knuckles and held Drift's hand.
"Will do!"
They laughed awkwardly after, the crying left them sounding odd.
"Hey Scott?"
The vampire looked up at their elder.
"Thanks, I mean it."
It's been a while since Scott saw someone be truly grateful for him. He nodded, if he said anything, it might come out wrong.
Shelby took off with Drift who thanked Scott in the middle of her run, both of them waved goodbye to their friend.
And then, Scott was alone. Or rather, Legundo was alone with Scott.
It was so confusing, utterly so. The sight before him fought his every current belief. It's insane, he thought he would've been spotted and chased out a long time ago. Maybe it'd be better if he was. He was better off not knowing this. This... humanity of Scott.
"If you value your life and town," Scott's ruby eyes glared at the pillar of dirt the doctor was spotted at. "You'll leave and speak to no one about this."
Scott hissed, Legundo took the signal and ran.
He wasn't about to fight a vampire alone.
He never planned to when he went on this trip.
Then again,
He doesn't think he could.
Who the hell was Scott?
...
What the hell is Scott?
To him, an ingredient to a cure.
Previously.