Chapter Text
A grave sits atop a hill where no body is buried. There was no body to be found, not for a dark creature of the night. Scott had sat waiting all night staring at the headstone that he had placed in the dirt. He had held on to a dim hope that Avid would come running up the hill, with his bright smile and ridiculous giggle. It made him feel that which he had once lost to time. It isn't easy to get attached after so much time and loss. It's natural that vampires get colder the older they are, it saves them from the pain of their younger years.
Yet Scott mourned with a heartache he's never known before, and a lonely man waits alone in a castle.
Scott wouldn't have called himself lonely, not before, but Avid gave him a gift and a curse. He had been different from everyone else, giving adoration simply because Scott existed. Scott wasn't even given time to understand it, before it was already gone.
Scott holds a red, blood stained cloak tightly in his grasp. It's odd, how something can gain so much meaning. It had been collecting dust in the back of his closet only the day before. He had honestly forgotten about it after all this time, and yet now he treasures it. It serves to fuel the rage and heartbreak that grows in his soul. He places it gently back in his closet, not willing to bare the thought of ruining the last remaining piece of Avid.
He composes himself once more, and steps out of his room to find Shelby. He knows she would be taking this the hardest. Since she turned him, he would be her responsibility, but she's only a fledgling herself. She shouldn't have had to worry about her own fledgling, let alone losing him so quickly.
The castle is deathly still. The vampires all feel the loss of one of their own, even Cleo was appalled by the murder of a fledgling. Owen and Pyro were the only two who weren't affected, but they don't stay around the castle often anymore. The air is thick with tension when they are around, whether with anger or disdain, or both. Soon the grudges would need to be put aside, if only to end the fight with the humans, but that would not mean anything would be forgiven. Scott has plans for both of the traitors, but they are still useful for now, as much as he hates it.
Scott knocks gently on Shelby's door. There's no response, but he can hear sniffling. He pushes the door open slowly, finding her curled up in a nest, sobbing into pillows. He joins her, holding her tight. She curls into him, gripping his shirt in her fists.
"It's not fair," She whispers in between her tears, "he was so young." Scott just holds her tighter. He doesn't have the words to comfort her. There is no comfort for this, they can only try to hold on to the pieces that fall apart.
“They will pay for this,” Scott says tightly, a promise.