Chapter Text
It's been two weeks, and as much Pyro prays their Sire will come back, they know they're on their own now.
They have to move from the small, empty cabin they were put in. It's freezing, and hunger pains stab in their gut. Pyro doesn't know if vampires can die from starvation, but they don't want to find out.
Moving out from under the thin blanket covering them is hard. It isn't warm or cozy, but it's all they have. A whine builds up in their throat as they force themself up, shivering miserably.
Pyro doesn’t want to think their Sire turned them with the intent of abandoning them at the first opportunity, but it made more sense then their Sire living in such a rundown place. Pyro was too out of it to question much those first two days, but looking back it was obvious their Sire's clothes were too nice to be staying here.
Two days was all it took for their Sire to leave them behind. Not enough time for Pyro to prove themself worth anything.
They still feel lethargic, a sleepiness that's followed since their turning, and the cold isn't helping. Getting outside the cabin only makes things worse, the temperature dropping even further.
Pyro has no idea where they are, or where they're supposed to be going. All they know is they can't stay here and do nothing if they want to survive.
Trekking through the forest is difficult, and Pyro feels more and more lost the further he goes. Pyro doesn't know what he was hoping to find, but all there is around him is trees. He can't hear the movement of animals or see any lights indicating a town.
Not that a town would be helpful to him right now. He's sure he'd end up dead if humans found him. Though, Pyro thinks he might end up dead anyway. The chill aches into his bones, and he doesn't have any warmth in his body anymore to counteract it. His stomach hurts, and Pyro isn't finding anything to eat.
It's just as he starts to give up and attempt his way back to cabin that he hears it. It's a faint, barely there noise, but it's all the warning he has before he's tumbling to the ground.
Panic engulfs him as sharply clawed hands pin his wrists above his head, two figures hovering above him. The man pinning him down is strong, his long brown hair doing nothing to hide the fierce glare on his face, his nails digging into Pyro's skin.
The other man is tall, short white hair combed back. He's wearing an amused smirk.
It's obvious that these two are vampires as well, though they're clearly more powerful than Pyro is. Was this how he was going to meet his end? Abandoned, cold, hungry, and afraid?
The man pinning him down tightens his hold on Pyro's wrists, his glare sharpening. "What do you think you're doing here? This is Goldsmith territory."
Pyro had no clue what that meant, or how he was supposed to have known that, but his silence isn't appreciated. A miserable little whimper escapes him when the man digs his claws into Pyro's wrists again, tears falling without his permission.
He just wants his Sire.
He wants someone to protect him.
But he knows even as whimpers for his Sire, no one will come. Pyro is alone in the world. Not one person wants him, and no one was going to save him.
A stern voice breaks through their thoughts. "Owen, get off of them. Now."
The man pinning them down, Owen, scowls but does as he's told. Pyro doesn't dare move, even as the other man comes to stand over them. Pyro can tell this man is dangerous, and something in them already knows they don't have a chance.
They tilt their head to the side, letting out a pleading whimper as they bare their throat. Maybe if they made it clear they weren't a threat they would be spared. It's all Pyro can think to do.
The man coos, leaning down over them. They whine fearfully as he gets closer, but the man shushes them.
"Hello, darling," he murmurs. "This certainly changes things."
The man hums to himself as he moves an arm under Pyro's legs and back, ignoring their whimpers.
Pyro yelps as the man picks them up, instinctively latching onto his shirt to steady themself. It takes a moment for Pyro to realize what they've done, but they pull their hand away as fast as they can once they notice. They flinch hard as their wrist is caught, but the man's hold is careful.
He smiles at them, rubbing his thumb over their wrist. "You can hold on, fledgling. It's okay."
Pyro whines quietly, but takes the permission for what it is. They hold on to man's shirt as he carries them, as awkward as the position is.
Owen walks back into view, still scowling, though he looks less aggressive then before. "Scott."
The man, Scott, tilts his head. "Everything's fine, Owen. It's just a small change in plans."
Owen doesn't look happy with this, but Pyro doesn't process what he says next over the intense shiver that wracks his body. Everything is still freezing, and Pyro clings harder to Scott, pressing his face to the other man's shoulder.
He knows he shouldn't. These vampires are stronger than Pyro could ever hope to be, and he doesn't want to know what they'll do to him if he annoys them enough. But it's so cold. His chest hurts with how cold it is.
As pathetic as it is, all Pyro wants is the threadbare blanket his Sire left him with in the cabin. It wouldn't do anything to help, but Pyro could at least pretend.
He flinches as a hand lands on his back, but all Scott does is trace gentle circles along his spine.
"It's okay, fledgling. We'll get you somewhere warm. Come on, Owen."
Pyro doesn't bother looking up to see where they're going. Even if Scott was lying, there was nothing he could do about it.
The promise of warmth was worth the risk anyway.