Chapter Text
Mark Dracula, the vampire with no fangs.
At least, that's what they call him.
The people around Kade Academy have no remorse for those different to them. Sure, the difference monster types can happen to get along. A guardian angel befriending a a revenant. A siren befriending a werewolf.
But how far do these acceptances truly go? For Mark Dracula, they only reach the bottom of an empty well.
It's not as if he is bullied on a constant basis of humiliation, no, of course not. The principle of Kade Academy won't accept such behaviour. He was simply alone.
Much like every other monster within the highschool, there weren't many of the same type. Of course, there was an acceptable diversity within the type of students that attended. Some dead, some undead, some alive... And some had more of their kind than others.
Werewolves for an example, were extremely common within the school. So common to the point where a 'Night howler' club was made, exclusive for werewolves and their experiences with blood moons where they became true wolves. These transformations only lasted that one specific night. However was often seen as traumatic to many students, not so much among adults.
As for every other type of monster? Such as Wendigos, guardian angels, and revenants? Not so much.
Thankfully for Mark, the population ratio of vampires to other monsters in the school happened to be 1:25. And for a school filled with thousands of student monsters? Mark was never alone in his own monster group.
But that wasn't the case, was it? Everything would always fail, and for Mark? This happened to be a curse.
Mark, a "vampire without fangs" they said.
He had no guts, no drastic pull to take blood from humans like a packet. He went against everything that his overly popularized father worked for. He wanted to be human, his father wanted to be a vampire.
And for a whole community? A community built around Count Dracula's work ethics? The first vampire to appear in this world? The one used as a primary example?
It didn't take a genius to understand that with Marks reluctancy to follow such rules, he was an outcast. In his own monster group.
He didn't mind. Mark wouldn't make a huge affair over something so fragile. Plus Mark always had a chance to make friends with the other monsters at school! Right?
He knew what the definition of a friend was, he's always known. "A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations."
A friend.
One who would lift you up in dark situations, share memories beyond relationships you've ever know. Someone to rely on. Who would listen, care, not judge. Someone... Someone who Mark yearns for.
Through all the thousands of years of Marks living, he's always wished for one thing. A friend. Each birthday, each Christmas, each blood moon, each shooting star... All the same hopeless wish like tossing a coin into a drained fountain.
All the same, worthless dream which failed with every try. A broken promise.
Mark was simply too weak for the harsh reality of the world he was confined in. A true vampire, with no fangs.
He relied on others too quick, he was too friendly. Too touchy, too distant, too little, too much.
He was never enough, never perfect. And that was his biggest flaw.
Ever since Mark was a little bat, he grew up in a closed off over glorified family. The huge mansion walls could fill even the narrowest hall with swarms of new people. And yet, everything always felt so empty. Some people would always say:
"You're so lucky to be the son of Dracula himself!"
"I wish I could be part of your family!"
"I bet it's so cool living in a mansion!"
And Mark would simply smile and nod all the way back into the lowly coffin. He was too soft hearted to ruin people's spirits. Too soft hearted to scream his mind out. Too soft hearted to beg for a better life.
Because that was rude. It was rude to his father who, despite never paying attention to Mark, was an extremely inspiring role model.
It was rude to his siblings who, despite the fact that Mark was a middle child often forgotten by the entire family, felt like puzzle pieces that belonged in his heart.
And it was rude to the strangers he met. Although they never stayed close enough to even know his name, although they saw him as a nuisance, although they wouldn't care if he were to bleed his heart out... They were still his 'friends'. And friends always looked out for eachother.
Mark couldn't help but feel alone through all these years. Even after joining Kade Academy, friendship was something he was missing.
He didn't want to think this way. He didn't want to sound like a terrible monster towards those around him. Especially in a school that specialised in getting rid of that monster side to blend into the human world.
After all, he's always seen Rev Vennet as one of his greatest friends. Now he realises he is simply just a 'roommate' which will never break through Rev Vennets walls. He wanted to believe in a fake fantasy where they could all get along. But the more Mark looks at it, he never mattered to Rev. He was more of a tool to use whenever Rev needed a distraction. Rev didn't care how much effort he put into looking after his cat. Rev didn't care how much Mark worried about him. Rev didn't care how much Mark beat himself up for not being good enough. Rev didn't care, and he never would. They weren't friends, they were acquiatances. Maybe even less than that.
Rev was always open towards Bella Donna. His voice would twinge with a newfound sweetness that Mark had never heard leave his lips. Despite his acts being the same, his tone, the way he looked at her, the way he treated her... All differed from Mark. Was the guy in love? Maybe. But this didn't mean Mark needed to be alone.
This was still the same case with Sera. Rev relied on her. He wasn't too harsh, too sweet. He was just the right amount of perfect that really made him and Sera friends. They didn't have a romantic love, they didn't have a hatred, they were friends. And to think that Sera never showed her emotions? Never up until Rev pulled that out of her?
It just made Mark feel useless. At this rate, he wasn't even sure that his disappearance would cause a shift in them.
It was already clear to Mark that Rev didn't care. And it was pretty obvious that Sera didn't put any mind either. Sure, she looked out for him when he was first asked out by that siren. But then else did she really care about what he felt? Mark couldn't judge, after all, Sera found it difficult to show emotions herself. But, it hurt to think that... Even after all the clear signs of himself slowly chipping apart, she could only think about Rev Vennet.
Mark was being rude, that's what he would think to himself. He shouldn't feel jealous that he was no one's favourite. He shouldn't feel remorse towards the only people who mattered to him. But even after everything he has been through with everyone, he thought, maybe. Just maybe, he deserved this one bit of appreciation.
For once to be seen, unlike the invisible figure inside his mirror.
He wanted to be acknowledged. And, even after Sera and Bella Donna warned him about the siren... He truly thought, that maybe for once, he found someone that actually cared. He thought, that maybe for once in his life, there would be someone to see him for who he is. But no.
Mark is just a vampire without fangs, too naïve and easy to trust. A sacrificial lamb for a sirens next meal.
He felt stupid.
Stupid for trusting those that happened to always be the ones to leave him behind as if he's already turned to ash by the sunlight. Always left behind in these so called 'missions'. Left behind in huge life course changing moments, left behind in classes in general. He was always the one singled out, never really understanding why Sera felt so attached to Rev. Never understanding why Bella left them for Rev. Never understanding why Rev was so much more violent towards him compared to others.
He was just a stupid vampire. A vampire without fangs.
Mark pushed open his coffin slowly, the soft sounds of his roommate suddenly filling the room. Everything around was so empty, despite everything within it. The cabinet felt more like an endless void. The walls, like stageplay. His belongings, like a false reality where he convinced himself he was someone of value.
Marks mind was a bit hazy from waking up so early. After all, he would always aim to wake up around the same time as Rev so that he could talk about his wild dreams. Today, he saw nothing.
Mark didn't rush to get ready. He walked around the dorm with gentle elegant steps, the ones that always made the least noise. He memorised every crack in the floor, every loose floor board that would scream under the smallest pressure. Theres not much to focus on when your own roommate barely speaks to you anyways.
Mark slowly changed out of his attire into the school uniform suit. He fixed his tie, popped his shoes on, and even managed to brush his teeth without Rev waking up. For a revenant who didn't need rest, Rev sure was a heavy sleeper.
Mark silently chuckled to himself holding back any loud squeaks that would try to escape by covering his own mouth. The vampire smiled at the moment, already safekeeping it in his mind as a peaceful and joyful memory he would forever cherish. Although he was lonely, didn't mean he had to be alone. Alone... Wasn't he forgetting something?
Mark quickly snapped his head up, a lightbulb appearing above it as he shuffled over to the table in the middle of the room. The vampire took out a piece of paper before writing a quick, yet truthful, letter for Rev. It read:
'Rev!!
My greatest roomie! I'm feeling a bit blue so I'll spend the day by doing my own stuff! You know, being a bat! Reading! View gazing. Don't need to wait up or worry about me! I am most certainly not going to put myself in danger!
- love, your bestest friend ever! Mark!'
Mark smiled at the piece of paper, folding it neatly with Revs name at the back before he left it near the revenant. Mark couldn't help but feel a sense of, pride? Freedom? Relief? He couldn't tell either way, but it loosened some of the pain that was wrapped around his fragile heart. The vampire took this initiative as his time to leave, the sun just barely rising across Kade Academy... Early bird monsters beginning to get up as the glow of the light outside shone down onto the hallways Mark was passing through. He felt a bit peaceful. He didn't feel good, but.. atleast he could relax for a moment. Let out All that negativity...
Mark walked up to his first classroom, potion brewery. His hand hovered over the door knob as the first bell went off, the bell tasked with waking up all the Kade students from their slumber. The next bell wouldn't ring until an hour later which would be the moment Mark would have to enter the classroom. Instead, he paused. The vampire could end up in class an hour early and successfuly avoid all of his friends... However, maybe for once. He could see what was so fascinating about skipping class.
Rev always did it. And every time Rev happened to skip a lesson, something ballistic would go down. The guy was like a ticking time bomb, no one expected the moments when he would cause a chain event of reactions that could lead to his constant death. And Mark, Mark always admired that. He was always determined, despite all the consequences. Always having a magnetic pull for trouble which would lead to crazy adventures.
The vampire took a very slow, hesitant step away from the door. His heart already racing from the adrenaline of his own decision. A small sheepish smile appeared on his own face, a faint pink dusted onto his cheeks and ears as he felt like a brand new vampire. A deviant. Mark quickly ran down the hall with his heart pounding like 100 horses galloping.
He needed a plan! A strategy to get around... And Mark had just the idea.
It was so boring. Mark aimed for an adventure, a spy type of situation! Maybe a life threatening experience! Anything! And yet, after hours of waiting, Mark sat at on one of the rocks beside the graveyards. He felt alone. As if not even the spirits inside the graves wanted to talk to him. He truly was just an-
"-Ey! What are you doing here?!" Wendy the wendigo said in that usual raspy, unbelievable voice. Her sudden appearance making Mark almost jump out of his skin as he let out a scream. The vampire was suddenly punched, shutting him up instantly as Wendy yelled "Stupid!!! We're not supposed to be here!"
"I- I know!" Mark replied, his face entirely etched with fear and regret. He was truly far too innocent. Feeling so much guilt over missing a singular class that probably wouldn't teach him anything significant.
"What's up with you?" Wendy asked in a bit of a judgemental tone as her eyes scanned Mark up and down. The vampire was in perfect condition, he was simply sat against a rock. All alone... Clothes a bit muddy from walking around so much...
"N-nothings up!!" He stammered over his words quickly sitting up as he brushed the dirt and pebbles off his trousers.
"Okayy.." Wendy side glanced at him, preparing to turn around as her voice carried suspicion. But it was pretty obvious that Wendy really wouldn't care about Mark once he was out of her sight. Well, that's what they both thought. Until-
"Hey! Uhm..." Mark paused for a moment catching the Wendigos attention as she snapped back to glare at him.
"What!" She snarled at him as the vampire sheepishly replied to her violent shout.
"Can you... Stay?" Mark awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes fixating entirely at Wendy's reaction with a flicker of hope inside of the them.
"Huh?" She narrowed her eyes at the vampire as his ear flicked with an uncomfortable twinge.
"Uhm- I was wondering-"
"I heard you first time idiot!" She quickly cut him off catching Mark off guard. The Wendigo narrowed her eyes at him before folding her arms. "Don't you have friends to hang out with? Like the zombie boy!" Although her intentions were innocent, Mark felt as if a wooden dagger was pushed through his bare heart.
"Ah... Uhm, right... They're... They're busy!" Mark shifted in his shoes making up a very obvious lie. His confidence shrunk by the second as he began to pinch at his skin. The Wendigo rolled her eyes and continued to speak. Somehow, even with her unnatural tone of voice, she managed to sound a bit softer?
"Whatever!" She turned on her heel and began to walk away with no intention of returning to class. After all, brewery is where she first met her hell... Rev Vennet. She thought she could easily cut ties with that... Monster. Yet, turns out, now she was tied in with not only his horrid missions. But now she was tied with the revenants friends.
"Ah- wait!" Mark quickly ran after her, now the two were walking side by side.
"How about I keep you company?" His eyes lit up, a light smile appearing on his face as those little fangs peeked out from underneath. "You know, you are technically my friend! You do play all those games with us!" He blinked, looking down at the already annoyed Wendigo with that innocent look.
"I'm not your friend!" Wendy retaliated baring her teeth as the vampire stared back, clueless as ever. Wendy hoped to push him away, ruin his mood, to get him to disappear. But no, instead, Mark smiled even brighter.
"That's what Rev ALWAYS says! But we are quite literally the biggest roomies ever!!" Mark emphasised 'always' with that usual tone whenever he was excited or beginning to maunder about everything he's ever known.
"Uh huh, sure." Wendy rolled her eyes replying with a clearly sarcastic remark on Marks friendship with Rev. She may not have friends, but she truly didn't understand why Mark was with someone like Rev. Nor why Mark seemed to extol him so much. The revenant was the most stupendous tyrant she has ever met. And yet was friends with the world's most virtuous, beloved person she could ever think of meeting.
"Why are you even friends with that guy?" Wendy asked bluntly, her gaze actually taking a look at Mark despite trying to avoid his every attempt to get closer to him. Her words and action quickly made the vampire snap out of the ambiguous blather about his revenant friend.
"Because Rev is a great friend! And he's my roomie! We were destined to become besties!" Mark smiled pridefully, his hands held up in the air, presenting his merriment with the smallest of actions. Wendy as a result shot him an (unintentionally) judgemental look as the cogs inside her mind began to turn. Mark was clearly, blind. And stupid. Wendy curled her hands up into a tight disobedient manner as she began to remember all those excruciating moments she had with Rev Vennet. That time he humiliated her in class, when he got Sera to throw Wendy out the window... When... They had to visit Lovecraft... When she was trapped in the void...
All because of Rev. She wouldn't be in this situation if it weren't for Rev. She could have a normal peaceful life, if it wasn't for Rev.
Wendy snapped one of her nails off with the sheer force of her fingers pressing against her own calloused hand.
"Don't you see how much of a terrible person he is?" She lashed out at Mark. Her volume staging at a low, formidable level. However, her tone was seeping with a sharp venom. Mark had to step back from the sudden change, his eyes flicking open wide. He took a small moment to think about his next words, taking a deep breath in to relax himself. His facial expression melting back to its usual cheerful form as he gently replied.
"Revs not terrible! He's just... A little difficult to deal with at times..." Mark spoke like a true saint as Wendy's danger continued to boil over. Her voice becoming louder as she scolded the poor vampire for being so naïve.
"Difficult?! Have you not seen the things he does?!" She raised an eyebrow, her raspy voice becoming lower with each second as rage entrapped her whole mind. Mark shrunk ever so slightly, his eyes drooping as he answered the Wendigos question in the most sincere way he possibly could. By telling the truth.
"Well other than raising the dead, getting sent to the principles office, and almost killing us all... Then I haven't." This whole moment made Wendy feel infuriated as she yelled back at the poor vampire struggling to do his best.
"That's not normal you idiot!!" Wendy stepped back still shouting and glaring down the taller vampire. Her voice returning to normal as she spoke. After all her torture, Revs actions such as near death experiences were considered 'normal' to the people around her. She hated this. The whole idea that whatever Rev Vennet did was natural because of his drive to leave the school, yet when she disobayed once, she instantly gets attacked for all her actions.
"I dunno, it's normal to-"
"It's not normal! You're not normal! No one is! This is a monster school vampire!" Wendy wanted to throw her hands up in the air in frustration. Her voice trembling as she was almost at the very brink of her breaking point. Mark, as a result, could only mindlessly stare back.
"Ofcourse it isn't normal!" He chuckled with that same goddamn smile. He was clueless about the incidents Wendy was forcibly pushed into by Rev. And Wendy? Wendy simply thought the vampire was being a condescending piece of shit.
"AUGHH! YOU'RE SO STUPID!-" She pulled at her antlers to handle her boiling rage as she snarled at Mark "- AND AN IDIOT, VAMPIRE FANG FACE!" She added, quickly storming off before she tried to stab Mark in the heart with her own bare hands.
The vampire stood frozen in place. He truly didn't understand what caused the Wendigo to snap like that. He thought the way he spoke was sweet and cheerful. Turns out, it was the entire opposite.
Now the vampire was alone. The poor excuse of a vampire, a vampire without fangs.
'Maybe she's right.' Mark couldn't help but thinking a couple hundred times. He was used to being called an idiot, stupid, and many insults in terms of his intellect. Sure, Mark may not have been the smartest, but sometimes, as much as he hated to admit it... It hurt. He wouldn't never say anything out loud, but just knowing everyone saw him as absent minded felt like a brick of insults being dropped onto his head.
Mark shook his head quickly, just like always, becoming the vampire everyone knewn once again. The optimistic, vampire without fangs. This was truly becoming old. The vampire loved being supportive, always having another person's back, and always apologizing if anything went wrong. All of these pointed to Mark being some angel sent down from heaven. And sometimes, just sometimes, Mark wanted to know what heaven felt like. Maybe there he wouldn't be berated for being himself. Maybe there his parents would accept him... Maybe then, he would finally be 'perfect'.
If he's seen as an angel on Earth, then he will fit perfectly in heaven.
The concept of Mark dying and becoming a angel really happened to throw him off for a moment. After all, he couldn't stay so sure he wouldn't end up in hell. Being a vampire meant drinking blood. And, despite the fact that Mark barely ever drank any, meant that people had to suffer in order to supply this source.
Mark felt a twinge of unease before calming himself down. Or so he thought, he thought he'd be able to have a moment to relax until, the scream of the school bell snapped Mark out of his thoughts.
The students could already be seen diving out of classes and into the open field. Several howling jocks, a few selection of girls, and something he never hoped for. His friends.
Marks' feet felt as if they were physically nailed to the floor, his body rigid and refusing to cooperative. His energy suddenly drained from his body as his ears began to ring.
Maybe this was from the lack of blood the vampire had this past week. Maybe this was his last inch of energy being drained from the guilt he felt after Wendy ran off. Or many if was the thought of death that made him so weak.
Mark quickly leaped out of their view cowering in the crowd of students before successfully parting the people in order to get behind one of the walls. His forehead was sweating a little but if anything Mark had to find a better place to walk rather than the very visible graveyard.
And he knew exactly where...