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Pyro sits quietly in the library, trying as hard as he can to fade into the background. Scott and Avid were just a few bookshelves away, but neither had noticed his presence yet.
Pyro knew that Scott was never his, but hearing Scott be so gentle and enabling towards Avid's incessant chatter made something bitter and scared curl up in his gut.
He felt like he was being replaced, though that wasn't accurate. Scott had never had any tolerance for Pyro's rambling, and had never been anything close to gentle with him.
He wasn't being replaced. Scott had just found someone he likes more than Pyro.
It was a hit to Pyro's self-esteem. Like Pyro was a kicked dog, awaiting their master's approval. They supposed it wasn't an inaccurate comparison, though it did nothing for their pride, nonexistent as it was.
Pyro hates the way Scott treats him, but something in him liked the attention, negative as it usually was.
It was sick, and Pyro was sick for liking it. It was no wonder Scott would choose to bring in someone who threatened Pyro's position so much. He was pathetic.
Pyro swallows dryly, abandoning the books he had been so excited to read only minutes earlier. That rare moment of happiness had been squashed as soon as those two came into the room.
Pyro had gone to the library to escape his precarious situation. Scott almost never came to the library. He had denied Pyro's every offer to spend the afternoon surrounded by books. Pyro couldn't have anticipated that all it would take was Avid asking to bring Scott where Pyro had all but begged.
It was favoritism, and that was dangerous. Scott already only tolerated Pyro on good days, and only when they were making themself useful to coven. With the addition of Avid, who had been hostile to Pyro from the moment they had been found out, Scott would be more inclined to look the other way if someone decided to take Pyro out of the picture.
No one would protect them, if that came to be. Scott liked Avid better anyway, and Owen could care less about any of them expect maybe Shelby.
Shelby would never stand between Pyro and Avid. As much as Pyro cared for her, they knew she didn't feel the same. Pyro was a background character in her big happy family.
They didn't fit, because no one actually wanted them there.
Shelby had always taken Scott's side, not willing to listen to word Pyro had to say, and Pyro knew she wouldn't switch up now. She admired Scott, and Scott was kind to her. Why would she risk disrupting her fantasy to protect Pyro of all people?
They knew Shelby blamed them for her turning, even though they had only managed to get the final hit. It hadn't been their idea to lure her to the lake. They hadn't even meant to drain her.
Pyro had been so hungry, and no one had bothered to help them adjust to their new lifestyle. Scott had been furious with them, and Pyro had been terrified not only of their Sire, but of the ravenous hunger that had overcome them.
Scott was a neglectful Sire at best, and hadn't told Pyro anything but the basics about what he had done to them. Pyro had to teach themself how to hunt, and with no past experience, they went hungry most days before Shelby's turning.
Scott hadn't cared for their plight, only that Pyro had disrespected him. Pyro hadn't even known that letting their Sire eat before them was a rule. Scott had let them off with a few bruises that healed too fast to matter to anyone but Pyro, and a threat on their life if they dared to make the same mistake twice.
Pyro was lucky that Scott hadn't cared about Cleo. If he had, Pyro is sure he would have followed through with his warning.
Shelby and Owen had both seen Scott hit them, though they were sure Shelby was disoriented by her turning, and no one had stepped in.
That was all they needed to understand that if Scott allowed them to be disposed of, there was no one that would save them. Pyro would be dead, and no one would grieve or mourn.
Maybe Shelby would be sad for a bit, but she wouldn't take any action against Scott or Avid, if her fledgling was the one to deal the blow.
Owen wouldn't bat an eye. The older vampire had never had any interest in being friends with Pyro despite their efforts to reach out.
Pyro doubted anyone would even bother with a grave. Graves were for people worth remembering, and Pyro wasn't worth enough to anyone here for someone to make the effort.
It was possible that Pyro could survive by being invisible, not engaging more than necessary with the coven, allowing themself to live like they had back home in the capital.
They didn't want to live like that anymore. It had been the only good thing about being turned into a vampire. At least for a little while. Before Scott decided that he needed them under his thumb.
Was living like a ghost better than becoming one? If it meant his survival, could Pyro handle being nothing again?
He knew the answer to that was no.
Back home, if that place could even be considered that anymore, Pyro had almost took himself out because of how miserable being invisible was.
The only option Pyro had was to strike first, if he wanted to live a life worth living. He didn't know how he would do that, but Pyro would find a way. He still needed to leave Oakhurst.
He thought for a bit that he might stay with the coven after they were released, but Pyro's sure Scott Goldsmith wouldn't appreciate him overstaying his welcome.
He would go to the capital.
He would prove that he was more than the failure everyone thought he was.
Pyro wouldn't lay down and let them kill him.
Not this time.