Chapter Text
It’s been only a day since the confirmation of vampires existing and Shelby being one was all Drift could think about. She wants to deny the monster's existence, even the possibility of her friend being one, but unfortunately, she just had to be walking with Avid who was proven to be right.
Within the last two weeks, a lot went down. They lost the beacons, weakening them and barely a day after, Owen, the only one who happened to know the town prior, came forward with a twisted version of the town’s history in a town meeting. He confirmed the existence of vampires, proving Avid’s paranoia to be right. For some reason the meeting turned to painting Avid as the problem. When he asked for someone to defend him no one made any effort to, and he left.
Drift admittedly felt as though she should have said something, but feared to speak out. Feared to be disregarded or targeted for being too close to him.
Later that week they were able to confirm who the vampires were. As many expected, mostly Avid, they were Scott, Owen, Pyro… and Shelby. The fourth she struggled to come to terms with at first. Then the town members decided the best course of action would be to confront the vampires. This went as well as expected, returning back to town with nothing but a threat on her roommate’s life.
But before that, Martyn, Cleo and Legundo went to the castle and apparently saw the vampires. They were the ones who confirmed who the vampires were. At first Drift refused to believe them, but ultimately had no choice as both Cleo and Martyn witnessed Shelby and Owen turning into bats. After, it was the rest of the town’s turn to see for themselves.
Now a day after, Drift, Avid and Abolish were returning from raiding the tombs and were heading back to town. As they walked, for the first time since meeting Avid, Drift wished that he'd shut up for a moment. All her roommate was going on about was how right he was.
She gets that the entire town had been calling him crazy for believing in vampires, and it turned out he was right.
Yes she also gets that he was right about who the vampires were.
Yet she can't help but get upset by the way he’s acting, as if they haven’t just lost Shelby, or Owen hasn't just threatened him and the lives of the entire town.
Drift kept this to herself, dissociating as she let Avid talk her ears off.
It did not take long for them to arrive home, Avid welcoming Abolish in as they headed towards the small table. Drift did not bother following them, going straight to her room when Avid paused his rambling.
“You’re heading up already?” He hummed curiously as she began climbing the ladder, "I thought you'd wanna continue talking.”
Drift paused then shrugged. “I’m tired. I’ll join in soon if I’m still awake.”
I’m not in the mood for conspiring anyway
Avid nodded, hesitating but stopped himself from pestering much to Drift’s relief. She mumbled a goodnight to the two before leaving them.
The moment she got to her room she allowed her body to drop onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow with a long exhausted groan.
How in the world does Avid make it without sleeping for so long.
Since arriving in Oakhurst, she had never felt this tired, mentally or physically. She laid still on the bed for a moment before reluctantly getting up and removing her coat, monocle, and shoes before plopping down again, sighing.
She felt conflicted. As much as Avid has been irritating her at the moment, she cannot bring herself to get upset at him. Sure he’s indirectly calling their friend a monster but she knows he’s not meaning any harm, specifically towards Shelby. He was just going about it wrong. Yet she wants to prove him otherwise. She knows of the dangers of vampires, which Avid never fails to remind everyone of, and that she should stay far from them. She wants to believe not all creatures of the night would jump to kill at the given chance.
She isn’t one to jump to conclusions just from hearing one side, which in this case is Avid’s.
She is a detective after all
And there is always another side to everything.
Though unfortunately, getting the other side would be difficult.
She’s going to have to trust her gut.
Although she can’t say anything on behalf of Scott and Pyro, not really familiarising herself with them before everything went wrong. Or Owen, who she was terrified of even before he threatened the town. But she would swear on her soul that Shelby would not hurt anyone. Yeah, she only knew them for a couple weeks but Shelby was obviously a sweet soul.
Maybe a cure would work.
Drift knows that Avid was an alchemist before all of this, and happened to know the most about vampires. Maybe if he worked with Legundo and quit antagonising the doctor they could possibly develop a cure.
But what if Shelby did not want a cure? What if she liked being a vampire?
Was there even a cure?
She paused, groaning as she dragged her hands down her face.
I need to talk to someone
Maybe Avid- no.
Avid should not even be an option. Despite being friends with both herself and Shelby, the younger man goes into hysterics at the mention of vampires. He’s an immediate no.
Then she thought about Legundo. The man seemed sensible and is also a doctor. Although he did look like the best option, he seemed… preoccupied when the trio passed his house on their way home.
Then there’s Apo. Sure she’s in the military but the poor woman looked stressed since she and Avid found them at the castle earlier that week after talking to Scott.
She even knocked Pyro off the bridge with no hesitation even knowing they're a vampire.
Shelby also wasn’t her biggest fan when she was still a human. Drift would not be surprised if the feeling was mutual between them.
Abolish seemed reasonable, but does she really trust him? There’s definitely more about him than he lets on. Besides, he is with Avid at the moment.
Martyn? He was the one to charge at the castle without a plan and almost got killed. He was a definite no.
Ren was hard to understand. And he’s too close to Martyn.
Mr. M won’t be as focused on the problem, and he was also close to Martyn and Ren.
Why even consider those three? I’m even that close to them.
That left…
Pearl and Cleo.
How did she forget about them?
Aside from Avid and Shelby, those two were the only others who she felt she could trust. They were levelheaded, and they were also friends with Shelby. Drift and Shelby even went exploring with them a week ago.
They even elected Cleo to be town mayor.
Maybe they would listen.
Drift suddenly shot up, disregarding everything as she ran out of the room, almost running into Avid who just had to be at the furnace.
Why did we put a furnace directly in front of the door? She groaned internally as she caught her balance.
“Woah,” Avid gasped narrowly avoiding her, bracing himself on the furnace as he saved his potatoes from falling, “you’re in a hurry, what’s up?”
“Sorry,” Drift apologised before stepping aside and walking around him, "I just remembered I had something for Cleo, I’ll be back.”
Avid stared at her confused as she rushed out the door. He frowned for a moment before taking the now baked potatoes to the table with Abolish as they began analysing books they found in the tombs.
“These darn vampires.” Pearl grumbled under her breath as she bred the cows. Almost everyday since, the livestock has been mysteriously depleting and with the only suspects being the vampires, sure she can blame the town, but just about everyone has their own or is sharing with someone else.
Who in the world would-
“Hey Pearl.”
Pearl paused immediately recognising the voice.
“Drift? What are you doing out at this hour?”
The other’s silence caused Pearl to raise an eyebrow, finally turning to face her as she left the pen.
“Drift?”
“Do you have a moment?”
Pearl hummed, tilting her head curiously. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just wanted your opinion on something,” Drift shook her head, “Is Cleo home, I also wanted their opinion.”
Pearl shook her head, ”They’ve been out for a while now.”
“Oh it’s alright then. Can we go somewhere less in the open?”
Pearl wordlessly led her to a secluded corner of the town, leaning against a nearby barrel. “What do you want to talk about?”
Drift hesitated for a moment as she fidgeted with her fingers. “How do you feel about vampires?”
Pearl paused, then raised her eyebrows, “Is this about Shelby?”
“Maybe,” Called out, Drift looked away embarrassed, “but there's more to it.”
And with that Drift began rambling, pacing back and forth midway. Everything from that week, Avid’s behaviour, her beliefs, her and Avid’s friendship with Shelby were all mentioned in some way. As hard as it was to follow, Pearl allowed it. She somehow was able to get what seemed important before momentarily zoning out. From what she got, Drift was stuck. Both wanting to keep being friends with Shelby, while trying to convince Avid not all vampires are monsters.
“So what do you think?” Pearl blinked, returning to reality as Drift continued, “I’m afraid that Shelby might think we hate her when we- I don’t. And I want Avid to calm down a bit more before I talk to him about this.”
Pearl shrugged, “I’d find a way to talk to Shelby. Avid seems like a lost case for the time being.”
“Okay that's a bit harsh,” Drift huffed, hurt in Avid’s defence at her remark. “But how?”
Pearl shrugged again, “A letter? Going to the castle is a definite no and I wouldn't suggest going into the forest by yourself.”
Drift went quiet in thought before nodding, "That's an idea,” she paused before looking at Pearl curiously, “Out of curiosity, what do you think of vampires.”
Pearl paused in thought, “Well, I believe they should be given a chance and if they messed up that's it.”
Drift hummed in agreement before asking another question, “what would you do if Cleo got turned?”
Pearl went quiet, “Nothing.” It was obvious to Pearl that Cleo has nothing against the Town and would not hurt anyone unless they proved to be a threat.
They both went silent, Drift expecting more and Pearl not wanting to elaborate.
“Oh okay then.” Drift sighed. “That was all so I'll let you be.”
“Just... don’t think too much about it,” Pearl rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder
Drift reluctantly nodded before leaving.
She’s definitely gonna think way too much about it. Pearl thought to herself, waving as she left.