Chapter Text
Martyn knew he couldn't mess this up. The townspeople had trusted him and he had to do his part. He would not let them down.
Owen was easy enough to catch. He was known to often visit the Doctor. So it wasn't hard to simply wait until his guard was down and hit him with a Holy Word. That was enough to knock him silly long enough for them to build an impromptu cell around him. Keeping him in place for the time being.
He wasn't sure how they managed to catch Scott in the end. Maybe Apo had succeeded in leading him into a trap. Maybe Cleo had simply overpowered him.
He heard the sounds of the group approaching before he saw them. He lifted his lantern a little higher in an attempt to cut through the gloom of the night. The sky was as red as ever and the moon was little more than a sliver. He watched the glow of torches slowly round the corner and approach the town center.
“What have you done!” A voice shouted from the rooftop behind him. Martyn quickly spun around but could not find the source of the shout.
“Show yourself coward! Stop slinking around the shadows like the rat you are!” He really hoped he sounded more intimidating than he felt. Truth be told, he was rather shook at the thought of an invisible perpetrator watching him for who knows how long.
The glare Pyro shot his way was enough to make him wish the man had stayed invisible.
“How? How have you possibly captured Sire? You are worthless humans! He is- He is–” Martyn was almost surprised at the edge of insanity seeming to creep into Pyro's voice the more he spoke.
The returning group had made their way into the town center and Martyn was able to see what Pyro must have seen from his vantage on the neighboring roof.
Cleo had both Avid and Shelby in their iron grip. Avid looked like he was either about to burst into tears or kill the next person who looked at him. Shelby had her head down so Martyn couldn't quite see her face, but he thought he saw something crimson drip from her face, landing on the cobble at her feet.
Abolish and Ren each had a large silver chain firmly in their hands, the ends of which were attached to Scott. Who, despite being laden with frankly an unreasonable amount of silver chains, managed to look like he was exactly where he wanted to be. His perfect posture never wavered even though Martyn could see the steam rising from the places the chain touched his skin. The holy water in his pocket suddenly felt a whole lot heavier. And he shuddered as he noticed the silver muzzle Legs had made was indeed being put to use, the red around Scott's mouth and the bandage on Ren’s arm telling a story Martyn wasn't sure he was ready to hear.
“Specs! I see you got him! Are you alright?” Yet again, he really hoped his voice didn't waver the way it did in his head.
“Aye me laddie. This creature of the night put up a mighty fight and managed to take a chunk out of me, but I'll be all right come mornin. Dontcha know.”
“More importantly. Is the second cell prepared for these two?” Cleo cut in, shaking Avid a little. “I want to put these buggers down so I can properly grab myself the dramatic vampire on the roof.”
“Ah yes sorry right here.” Martyn turned to flick the lever to his left, opening the second cell. This one was larger than the one Owen was currently sat stewing in behind him. Any and all attempts to speak with the man had either been met with hostile glares or threats creative enough to surprise a fey.
Cleo stalked over and very unceremoniously dumped the two vampires into the cell. Martyn quickly flipped the lever, locking them in. Cleo then turned their attention to the vampire on the roof, who suddenly looked like he would rather be anywhere else.
“Right. You. Get over here.” Cleo addressed the figure on the roof who quickly dispersed into a cloud of bats. Cleo growled and also vanished in a cloud of bats to chase after him.
Martyn turned his attention back towards the gathering crowd in front of him.
“Hey, I know they asked you to do the honours.” Pearl said from where she had seemingly appeared next to him.
“Jezus! Don't sneak up on people like that!” Martyn startled, trying to still his racing heart. “I nearly jumped out of my skin!”
“Sorryy I thought you saw me walk over with Cleo. Did you want me to take guard so you can go?”
“Yah sure. Thanks Pearl.” He turned and began making his way over to the group.
Scott was the first one to notice his approach.
“Hello Martyn, how is that limp treating you?” He sounded so cocky. Martyn really wished they would let him stake this vampire right here right now.
“Shut up.”
“Ren tastes very good by the way. You have good taste.” Scott continued licking at the dried blood around his mouth and fixing his bloody gaze upon Martyn.
“I said shut up!” Martyn did his best to ignore the smirk that seemed permanently etched into the vampire's cruel features and instead turned towards Legundo.
“Is this close enough Doc? Or do we need him closer to the beacon?"
“This should be close enough.” There was pain and resignation in his voice. Martyn wondered what ghosts were haunting the Doc as he spoke. “Do it.”
“Ooh, encouraging others to do harm now, are we doc? Or am I an evil vampire and don't count?”
“This.. This is the best I can offer you Scott. After everything you've done? It's better than you deserve.” Martyn reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial of holy water. Scott took notice and turned back towards him.
“Awww will you at least read me my charges before you stake me huh?” Apo stepped up and cleared her throat.
“Scott Goldsmith. You stand here convicted of the crimes of massacring the town of Oakhurst on at least one occasion. Killing Pyro, killing me, and killing Drift. As well as harboring ill intent for humanity and plotting our downfall. And on multiple occasions, attempting to eat and kill almost all of the town. For these crimes, you are sentenced to be forced cured or killed. Your fate is up to you.”
“Woooow, work on that speech long? I'd give you a slow clap, but.” Scott attempted to move his hands, only managing to rattle his chains ominously. “As you can see, I'm a bit tied up at the moment.”
“Scott.” The Doc’s voice cut through the night air like a dagger. “I have to know. Do you have any regrets? Here in your last moments of life? Would you change anything?” Scott stood, seeming to ponder the question.
“No.” He said at last. “No, I would not change a thing. Except, perhaps, killing you first.” The humor in his voice had left. Replaced with a cruel certainty. The Doc bowed his head and stepped aside leaving no one between Martyn and the monster calling itself Scott.
Martyn raised his hand and tossed the holy water onto the monster before him. Scott hissed in pain and attempted to back away but was held firmly in place by Abolish and Ren.
“Foul creature, receive your just reward.” Martyn said his voice steady for the first time in what felt like forever. “ Hoc Vinculum Tibi Dirumpo Mala Creatura Scott!”
As soon as the words left his mouth Scott doubled over in what seemed to be pain. His once red eyes began glowing a brilliant white. Martyn knew he was now being presented with the choice. Eternal damnation, or humanity.
He really hoped he would choose damnation.
Scott suddenly reared up, arching his back and managing to fling both Abolish and Ren to the side with the force of his movements. Then a scream tore itself from his throat. It lasted far longer than any scream had a right to.
Then Scott fell to the floor and lay there unmoving.
“Scott! Scott no! No please!” Avid’s frantic shouts from somewhere behind him was the first thing he heard after the ringing in his ears had cleared. The man had all but pressed himself against the silver bars of his cell. Crimson tears streaked down his cheeks as he continued to beg and plead with the unmoving body before him.
A much quieter string of “Nonononono. He was my roommate. He couldn't be-” drifted from the cell though Martyn couldn't see any sign of Shelby through the bars.
“Is that it? Is he dead?” Apos question cut through the stillness that had fallen over the inhabitants of the town.
“He must be.” Abolish said from his position crouching over Scott. “He certainly doesn't look anymore human and I certainly can't find a pulse.” He stood pulling his gloves back on as he spoke.
“What do we do with the body?” Pearl asked.
“I suppose we put him back in whatever tomb he crawled out of.” Martyn answered.
“I think what we should focus on next should be-” Legs was cut off by a groan coming from the corpse Ren was just finishing untying.
“What?!? You're alive?” Apo shouted.
“Uuughh here I was thinking you all were in hell with me.” Scott replied, attempting to lift himself off the ground and failing miserably.
“So. You chose humanity huh?”
“No. I didn't.”