Archive of Our Own

Dear Gborbust, I know this is not the story I promised you as per your prompt choices BUT it is something that came to my mind while thinking about one of those seven ideas. Most importantly: I was able to write this within a day! The other things I promised are not forgotten; they will see they light of day sooner or later.

Tris POV

“What are you doing this year Halloween?”

I look up from my check list and see Four stare at me.

“I don’t know yet. Not sure if I am on call,” I hedge.

“Nah, they wouldn’t put you on call. Max takes Halloween each and every year,” he assures me immediately.

“Why are you asking?” If I deflect the question, I might be able to figure out what he is up to.

“Why am I asking,” he asks, trying to turn my own question against me while bending down and picking up a box with tape.

“Yes, you did not seem that interested to know what I do in my free time since my own initiation ended.”

“Tris,” he sighs before walking away to store said box with tape in the locker.

The audacity is mind blowing. All though initiation he more or less flirted with me, just to turn around and pretend he didn’t know my name once I ranked first. Now we are thrown back together to get the initiates through training and he suddenly asks me what I am doing for Halloween.

“I was wondering if you wanted to attend the party with me now that you turned eighteen,” he sighs when he returns to pick up another box.

“What has me turning eighteen to do with you asking me out? We have known each other for two years as Dauntless and known about each other for even longer. Do you think ignoring me for two years is adequate foreplay?”

His ears turn bright red and he huffs while turning his back to me once more, pretending the box has to be brought to the locker right this moment.

“I find the idea of reaching adulthood by the age of sixteen wrong,” he admits when he returns and decides to finally face me. “It feels like you are taking advantage of children. Yes, you are asked to choose who you want to be at that age but that doesn’t stop me from feeling it is wrong. Eighteen used to be the age of consent,” he adds.

“I have been a consenting adult in the eyes of OUR society for two years. I am not sure if I want go out with someone who treated me like you did. Why should I give you a chance?”

“Because we got on well, we still do. Just look at this year’s initiation. We worked well together. I supported your new stance on training while you supported my role as trainer. You are someone I can respect, a leader who did not let her position get to her head.”

“All of that sounds great but I think I want more than you respecting me,” I state bluntly.

“Go out with me and we can see about the rest,” Four offers.

“Halloween is still two weeks away. Why do you want to wait this long?”

“I thought it was a good enough reason to ask you out.” Four scratches his eyebrow. “What’s left on your list?”

I look down to check what is marked off and what remains left for us to do.

“Throwing knifes need to be dropped in the armoury and then we need to inspect the dorms. Maintenance will take care of all that’s left.”

“Dinner?”

“Where?”

“The cafeteria,” Four says, looking at me like he has no idea what I am really asking.

“Throw something together and invite me over,” I counter.

“You want to come to my room?”

“Why does it sound dirty when you say it like that,” I growl.

“Because it is not proper… fine,” he sighs when he sees my face. “I can cook but need time to at least shower before you show up.”

“I haven’t agreed yet. This was a discussion of options,” I state, sounding rather icy.

“Look, I am not one for playing games. Would you like to come over to my place for dinner, Tris?”

“Yes, I think that would be nice.”

“Thank you,” he quips, sounding a bit annoyed.

I grab the box with throwing knives and then we move on to inspect the dorms. They are as filthy as always but there are no repairs needed.

We are done by five and I head to the armoury to return the knives before heading into the office to lodge my checklist and email maintenance.

“Still here,” Max asks when he pokes his head in.

“Not much longer. We finished our part of the post-initiation list and I am just emailing maintenance what needs to be done until next year,” I sigh.

“Good, anything come up?”

“No, all good. Dorms are shitty but the way we want them to be. There,” I hit send. “All done. Now a quick shower and then I am invited to dinner,” I say.

“You have a date?” Max looks a bit surprised.

“I don’t think it’s a date. Four is making me dinner.”

“That sounds like a date,” Max corrects.

“Well, he asked me out for Halloween, sprouting some bullshit that I am now eighteen, bla bla bla…  we are having dinner tonight and then we will see if I want to keep seeing him until Halloween.”

Max stares at me and opens his mouth twice to say something. In the end he just shakes his head and wishes me a good night.

…

The dinner date with Four goes well enough that I agree to another one. This turns into a new routine. Every other evening we are having dinner together but that is basically it. There is no attempt from his side to further our relationship and when I try to progress to at least kissing he calls it a night. Confronted, he admits that he doesn’t want to rush but build a good foundation first.

When I say you shouldn’t buy anything sight unseen he tells me that good things will come to those who wait.

I am contemplating cancelling on him, just to see what he will do, but in the end I don’t. Maybe I am hanging onto the two year old idea of us. The brooding and silent trainer that is a mystery to almost everyone. Knowing his real name and sharing our divergence seemed like it meant something. I just never expected him to be so … Abnegation.

Two days before Halloween I have had it once more. I am allowed to hug Four in greeting and hold his hand over the table when we are alone. When I suggest getting comfortable afterwards he leads me to his bed. I think we will finally make out, he grabs a remote and starts a scary movie. Okay, not that scary but it was supposed to scare people when it was made. Some of the vampires look cool but they act weird enough to make the movie rather boring instead of exciting.

“I am not sure this is going anywhere,” I say when the movie finishes and he successfully averted my lips and hands.

“It is going to be fine,” he promises, just like every other time.

“No, I think this time we are done. We don’t want the same things and should stick to being friendly,” I state.

“No, not yet,” Four argues with surprising vehemence. “Give me until All Saints. Spend Halloween with me and make your decision,” he asks, trying to bribe me with one of his sweeter looks.

“What’s the difference. Are you going to fuck me against the wall in a dark corner?”

“No,” he answers honestly.

“Are you going to kiss me?”

“I might,” he hedges and I growl.

“I might want to be kissed and groped. I might want it to be you who does it. Do you think you can deliver?”

“You’ll have to wait and see!”

“Argh,” I growl and jump off his bed. “That’s it. I am going home. Goodbye,” I shout and storm out.

…

There are flowers outside my door the next morning. A small bouquet of simple wildflowers that I know grow all around Abnegation.

I don’t see him during the day but the flowers on my desk draw comments from every visitor.

“You are still dating,” Max asks, looking at the filled glass.

“He has one date left before I pull the plug.”

“The Halloween party,” Max double checks.

“Yes. He asked me to not make a decision until All Saints.”

“Huh, smart move,” Max mumbles and drops the folder he brought me onto my desk. “Here, a little distraction.”

“Amity,” I groan when I read the label.

“Hey, someone has to check on them and you are the latest addition to the team.”

“Yeah, yeah, I am going to continue taking one for the team until Chris retires,” I groan.

“He is not that old,” Max exclaims.

“Exactly!”

Max laughs while I grumble.

“Since when do you have flowers in your office,” Veronica asks when she comes in to pick me up for lunch,

“They were a left outside my door.”

“And you decided to have pity on them and brought them back here?”

“No, I thought the gesture was nice and needed to be treated as such,” I explain.

“They are boring,” Veronica goads.

“They are wildflowers.”

“Yes, but there are wildflowers and then there are wildflowers. Some have vibrant colours and some are dull. These are just plain,” Veronica states.

“He is trying. I wanted to call it quits and he asked me for one last chance. All Saints is his deadline and he is working on it being a decision in his favour.”

“So he can’t take no for an answer,” Veronica asks, looking a bit concerned.

“I wouldn’t call it that. He wanted to… fuck, I don’t really know what he wanted but he asked me to not break up with him until after Halloween.”

“Devious,” Veronica mumbles while walking ahead of me through the door.

“Number boy turning into lover boy,” Eric comments when he stops by to drop yet another folder on my desk.

“Erudite,’ I growl. “Are you kidding me? Jeanine is all yours!” I push the folder back but he drops one large paw on top and I can’t move it any further.

“Not to insult your intellect but this one we are asked to do together!”

“I am not going to see Jeanine,” I reiterate.

“Nobody is asking you to,” Eric counters.

“No, you are just taking my choice away from me,” I huff. “Can I pretend this didn’t arrive until next week?”

“Got plans?” Eric’s smirk says it all.

“He knows that if he doesn’t put out some more we are done. Why am I telling you this?”

“Because you need someone in your corner that Four doesn’t want to cross.”

“Well, that too. Can I book you for All Saints? Kind of feel like I know what is going to happen tomorrow.”

“Fucking against a wall in a dark corner while he drinks all your blood?”

“How did you know he plans on going as vampire,” I ask.

“Maybe because he does that every year…” Eric leaves that hanging in the air. “Either stick with him or kick him out. The choice is always yours.”

Eric leaves after parting this kind of wisdom with a wolffish grin on his face. If he wasn’t so imposing I would call him a mischief maker at this point.

…

The next day I am sleeping in for once. Four asked me to spend the whole day with him and I told him I would. He knows I planned on waking up whenever I did and promised to come at a more decent time.

Seems that sleeping in for me means I wake up at seven. Taking a long shower, I take the time to shave and and use moisturiser. Normally, I just pass on these things but my costume is a bit more revealing than my regular attire.

Deciding to not wait for Four to come and pick me up, I eat some fruit and head out the door.

The hallways are unusually quiet for Dauntless and it feels like I am being watched despite not meeting anyone.

When I round the corner to Four’s floor, I almost step into a small puddle. Shit, I hope nobody peed here. Thank god it’s not vomit.

Looking around, I spot a maintenance closet and turn to head that way. Rummaging through the contents, I decide the ‘caution – wet floor’ sign would go well with some of the paper towels I found.

Dropping the towels over the mess, I set up the sign and am about to move on when I notice the colour seeping though the white tissue.

“Oh my god,” I gasp and bend down to double check. “Fuck,” I hiss when I see it really does resemble blood.

Four is close, he can help me with this, I decide.

He doesn’t answer the door when I knock. Maybe he is sleeping and needs a moment? I knock again and wait. No answer. No shuffling or other sound can be heard either.

I huff in frustration and decide to head to the infirmary instead. The hallways are still abandoned and it gives me an eerie feeling. Pinching myself to make sure I am not just having a weird dream, I scowl when it hurts like a bitch.

“Fuck “ I hiss as I move to push the doors to our medical facility wide open. They don’t budge and I am tempted to pinch myself again but manage to refrain.

Instead, I knock on the door and wait. The small glass windows are blacked out but slight movement to my right has me look up, straight at the moving camera. I wave and then, all of a sudden, the door is thrown open and I am pulled inside.

“What’s wrong, Tris? Why are you here?”

I stare at Tanja, one of our doctors.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, I found blood on the floor and wanted to see if someone got injured.”

“Where did you find it?”

“Around the corner from Four’s apartment. Block seventy two,” I add as she probably has no idea where Four lives.

“Oh, that’s okay,” she sighs in relief. “Why are you running around on your own?”

“Do I need permission to walk around Dauntless now?”

“On Halloween you do. Oh, you just turned eighteen,” Tanja exclaims as if that would explain everything.

“Yes,” I hedge.

“So this is your first year of actually being in Dauntless on Halloween,” she concludes.

“Well, I have been here for two years…”

“I know that. I am talking about spending this day at the compound. You went with the dependents to Amity the last two years, didn’t you?”

“Uh, yeah…”

“And this year you are dating Four. He really should be with you,” she growls.

“He wasn’t home when I knocked. I was worried he might have been the one to get hurt. Is he here?”

“No, and unfortunately you can’t stay here either. He will come looking for you... Maybe it is best if you run home and wait for him there?”

It might have sounded like a suggestion but I am sure I am being kicked out of the infirmary. I have never seen Tanja acting this weird. Maybe Halloween is messing with everyone’s mind.

“Thank you. I think I might do that after dropping by the office…”

“No! Go home! No work for you today,” she orders me harshly. “Good luck, Tris.”

With that she opens the door and pushes me out. I can hear the locks engage.

I walk home like in trance, stepping over a few more puddles that I really don’t want to look too closely at. Some asshole seems to love pouring fake blood all around the compound. Maybe it’s Zeke and Uri?

When I close my apartment door firmly behind me, I head directly to my computer and fire it up.

First, I am sending an email to maintenance, asking them to sweep all the hallways for the fake blood puddles and to clean them up without delay.

My next email is to all the leaders, chastising them for not giving me a heads up and telling them about the fake blood and request we keep things more sanitary in the future.

Last on my list is an email to Four, asking him to let me know when he is back home.

With that done I decide to keep working. The folder Eric gave me for Erudite made its way home with me and I am reading through it while constructing an email to Eric.

I finish without hearing back from anyone and hit send before heading for the kitchen. Digging through my small fridge I decide I do have enough food to eat at home and end up making myself an omelette.

There is a reply waiting for me after I rinsed my plate. One! And it’s from Eric, to my surprise.

When. I open it, I am bombarded with questions as to why I am working today. Don’t I have better things to do?

Yes, but someone is suspiciously absent

Eric invites me over to his place but I decline, fearing that will be the moment Four shows up and then I will have to stop them from killing each other.

It is early afternoon by the time Four knocks on my door, already dressed for the party. He doesn’t apologise and goes as far as admonishing me for running around the faction. In the end I am just so pissed at him, I threaten to kick him out.

“You don’t want to do that,” he urges, taking a step closer to me.

“You don’t scare me! Now back off,’ I growl.

He growls right back but stays still.

“I just want to be with you,” he sighs, once more rubbing his eyebrow.

“You have a funny way of showing it,” I scream, still pissed.

“Can you please not shout? My ears are rather sensitive!”

“Argh, just… go and sit down. Leave me to cool down for a few minutes. Don’t approach me, don’t talk!”

I storm off into my bedroom and slam the door.

Eric: Are you okay?

The message pops up on my tablet while it sits charging beside my bed.

Tris: Why wouldn’t I be?

Eric: Because I just heard you scream all the way to my apartment!

Oh, fuck! Eric doesn’t even live next door to me. Veronica does…

Tris: just a minor issue that will be resolved soon

Eric: want to come over?

Tris: I’ve got company

Eric: you have a bloodsucking stalker in your apartment?

Tris: maybe…

 Eric: he will leave you alone if you are with me

Tris: I am not saying no, I am saying not yet. I might ask you for help before tomorrow

Eric: the invitation stands, the door is open

Tris: I need to calm down and forget about stupid men that think they can decide for me. Any suggestions?

Eric: you could make the decision to come and see me instead

Tris: yeah, as if that would be any better

Eric: better than Four sucking on your neck? Hell yes!

Tris: I shouldn’t have started this line of conversation. Bye!

I turn my tablet off and throw myself on my bed. Taking a deep breath, I decide to just go and have some fun at the Halloween party before dumping Four for good on the stroke of midnight.

With my resolve firm, I go ahead and get dressed. I knew he would be going as a vampire so I chose my costume accordingly. Deciding to not match directly, I chose a leather dress I would not want to be caught dead in. It is short and figure enhancing, leaving my shoulders bare and I can actually wear my boots with it without looking weird. Christina described it as gothic slut but that’s only her opinion. Putting my hair up like she showed me to expose my neck, I add a rather intricate looking necklace I found last year.

One look in the mirror and I am happy with my choices. I don’t look like me, which was my main point, but I also don’t look like someone just asking for it. Sexy yet tasteful.

“Four’s eyes widen when I emerge from the bedroom but he refrains form commenting on the image I portray. Instead he requests I once more use his given name. I actually stopped doing that to highlight our diverging paths but for the sake of a peaceful evening I agree.

…

The party has already started when we arrive and there is a weird vibe going around. People seem to be on edge but still having a good time. Alcohol is flowing freely and this will loosen them up some more as time goes by.

I spotted Max in the crowd and Veronica looked fucking amazing in red leather and with some small devil horns sticking out her forehead. She winked at me as she passed and I laughed when some rowdy men almost pissed themselves when she stepped right in between them.

“Maybe we should look for the others,” I suggest.

“I would prefer to keep you to myself tonight.”

“Tobias,” I admonish and he growls. “Stop that. I don’t care for your tone of voice!”

“Sorry, Tris. But can it be just the two of us tonight?”

“I want to at least say ‘hi’. Can we do that?”

Tobias pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs deeply.

I turn to look around the room, deciding I will just head over myself as soon as I spot one of our friends.

“Whoa, who is that,” I exclaim when I see a disheveled figure stumbling around while people give it a wide berth.

Tobias’ hand stops me from approaching the man.

“I wouldn’t go closer if I were you. That’s Peter!”

“How do you know that’s Peter?”

“Ran into him earlier!”

Peter turns his head as if he is trying to locate a sound. Then, all of a sudden, he snaps to attention and his eyes meet mine.

The Peter zombi ambles over to us, his eyes glued to me until a huge figure steps right in his path, effectively ending out stare down.

Peter looks at Eric and moans loudly before trying to walk around him. Eric matches his steps and blocks him again. Peter moans some more while trying to get around Eric’s other side. This goes on for a full minute until Eric leans down. Peter immediately turns away and looks around the crowd. I try to follow his gaze and when he locks in on someone else I finally spot Christina.

Tobias stops me when I take a step in her direction and there is nothing I can do but watch Peter move her way.

Eric’s imposing figure makes me lose sight of my friend and when I look up I gasp.

“Are you wearing plateaued shoes? I swear you have grown since yesterday,” I ask, feeling breathless.

Eric looks at me in surprise and moves even closer.

“Do I look like someone who would wear that,” he growls.

“It’s Halloween,” I say as if that explained everything.

“And,” Eric asks.

“Weirder things have happened,” I quip and his head jerks to look at Tobias.

“Are you breaking rules,” Eric growls loudly.

“Will you two stop that never ending feud for once in your life. This is the weirdest party Dauntless has ever seen and you are going to be at each other’s throat for the duration of it?”

“No, we were leaving,” Tobias states and I swivel around to look at him.

“We just got here! I didn’t get dressed up for you to drag me back to your apartment and sit chastely beside me for the rest of the night.”

A blood curling scream that sounded an awful lot like Christina pierces the not so quiet party.

“Would you dance with me,” Eric asks when I try to run around him.

“No, I want to check on my friend. Peter might have done something to her.”

“I would like you to dance with me, Tris. One dance before you go home and get stuck with number boy,” Eric tries to persuade me while still blocking my path.

“Don’t even think about it! Tris is mine,” Tobias hisses and I just about had it with both.

“Shut up, I am done with this bullshit. You know what, I might like a dance,” I tell Eric. “But I am not sure the outcome would be any better than going home with Four. I think I will head home, alone!”

“Then we have a problem,” Eric sighs.

“We do,” I ask.

“Yes,” Tobias agrees, coming to stand right behind me.

“So you are telling me I can’t leave unless I am going with you,” I ask Tobias who nods. “And you are refusing to let me leave unless I dance with you,” I ask Eric.

“Not exactly. You can dance with me or go home with me but you are not leaving this party alone.”

I stare at Eric, he seems absolutely serious and so does Tobias.

“You both can go and fuck yourselves! Max,” I shout as loudly as I can. I know I saw him close by not so long ago. “Max!!!”

“Tris,” Max says calmly from behind Eric.

“I need help,” I say and he walks around Eric. I did not get a good enough look at his costume earlier but the weird contraption on his back looks like folded up wings upon closer inspection. “What are you dressed up as? Dark clothes, dark wings, no halo. Aren’t fallen angels supposed to be on the devils’ side which would make them demons?”

They all stare at me.

“What? I didn’t get a good look at Max’s costume earlier. It looks cool though,” I compliment.

“I am the guardian, ensuring the monsters don’t decimate the whole population today,” Max answers my unspoken question.

“Cool. Can this guardian tell the vampire and the … uh, what are you, Eric?”

“Alpha.”

“Alpha? What kind of costume is that?!”

“Alpha wolf,” Eric growls.

“Fine, whatever,” I huff. “Can you tell the vampire and alpha wolf that I am heading home and they can get lost?”

“I am sorry, Tris, but I can’t. You accepted Four’s invitation and you can’t leave without him. It is not safe.” Max looks uncomfortable.

“I offered her a dance and she wasn’t opposed,” Eric throws in. “Told her she could dance or go home with me,” he adds.

“So you have a choice to make,” Max concludes with a side eye to Eric who nods.

“My choice was to leave this party and head home alone. I am sick and tired of their little feud and the games they play,” I growl.

“No, Tris. This is not how this works. There are rules that need to be obeyed and at the moment your choice is between Eric or Four. One of them must be allowed the chance to make you his or else you forfeit your life right here and now.”

It sounds like he is announcing a decree.

“Are you pulling rank on me,” I gasp.

“Did you not explain anything to her,” Max turns to Four.

“See, you are breaking rules,” Eric interrupts.

“Shut up, both of you! This is getting out of hand. Tris is right. Now let’s talk,” Max booms and waves his hand.

“What the fuck,’ I screech when we are suddenly standing in the middle of my living room.

“Tris. Eric and Four will give you your options, then you choose.”

Max folds his arms across his chest and opens his wings. He looks like an avenging angel, all he needs is the sword … whoa. Fuck, that is a flaming sword and he is pointing it right at Tobias.

“I am a vampire. Halloween is open season, we indulge on this day. I asked you out on a date for today specifically and you accepted. This is the first stage of mating. I want to make you mine for all eternity.”

“How,” I stammer.

“I would bite you here.” Tobias raises his hand to touch my neck but I take a step back. “And would drink your blood until it is mostly gone. Then I will bite my wrist and you need to drink my blood. If it is meant to be, you will transform and become a vampire.”

“You are insane,” I mumble, taking another step back.

“Does this look like a prop, Tris,” Max asks, flapping his wings, using them to cover his face and even stretching them to touch my hand before wielding the sword, causing flames and sparks to appear.

“No, but the alternative would mean I am going insane.”

“You are not. It is just that you were chosen by one of us and when you accepted, however unknowingly, your fate was sealed. It’s mate or die trying.” Max doesn’t sound sorry yet there is sorrow in his eyes, almost like he knows I won’t mate Tobias.

“What would I eat,” I ask Max.

“You would need a bit of blood each day. You can eat normal food when you do, but on Halloween you need to consume at least two full humans worth of fresh blood.”

“The blood in the hallway,” I gasp. “You killed someone right outside your door? How could you?”

Tobias looks anything but remorseful.

“It needs to happen and anyone passing will do just fine. Normally I try to go to Factionless but I was rather hungry this morning.”

I don’t reply.

“Do you have any questions for me,” Tobias ask me with a sweet smile on his face that now only gives me goosebumps.

“How many?”

“How many did I eat or kill?”

“Is there a difference?” The question is out of my mouth before I can even think about it.

“Yes. I ate two females and two males today. As for killing, there was a brawl in Factionless and I needed to let loose a bit, so there are an additional thirteen.”

“How ironic,” I quip and Max chuckles.

“How many did you kill today,” I ask Eric.

“Three.”

“Did you eat them too?”

“Just tell her everything, Eric. Beating around the bush is not your style,” Max admonishes.

“Would be a nice change to all the subterfuge and hidden agendas,” I spit, looking right at Tobias who meets my gaze steady on.

“No, I didn’t eat people,” Eric sighs.

“But you kill them,” I state, there is no question about it in my mind.

“Yes,” Eric growls.

“Just tell me, Eric. If the bloodsucker killed seventeen, your three look like nothing in comparison, especially if you didn’t eat them.”

“He kind of did,” Tobias interrupts with a dark laugh and Eric growls again.

“I am an alpha wolf. I eat normal food but in order to find my mate I need to test a woman’s adaptability, so to speak.”

“I layman’s term,” I demand.

“My mate needs to match me in bed,” Eric states bluntly.

“Details,” I growl.

Eric perks up when he hears my growl. His eyes flash bright red before they turn back to his usual stormy grey.

“They need to be able to take my dick and survive my bite. No, I don’t drink blood, Tris. I bite them and my enzymes enter their system. Their DNA needs to have the right sequences, allowing them to adapt. If it rejects it then it’s a slow and painful death. The same goes for the other end,” Eric admit and pauses.

I wave my hand for him to continue.

“Let’s just say I am well endowed and it has to be all in when I bite. I get into a kind of frenzy where I don’t care if I don’t fit and they end up skewered,” he adds.

“Gross,” I exclaim.

“Yes, it is,” Eric admits.

Something occurs to me then.

“You fucked three women today,” I exclaim loudly and even Tobias laughs at the horror in my voice.

“I tried to,” Eric amends.

“But they did not leave the bed alive,” I double check.

“They are dead,” Eric confirms.

“Fuck,” I hiss.

“I tried,” he deadpans and I can’t stop the snort. “Look, Tris. If you choose me over Four then that’s what’s going to happen. You would need to take me and your body would have to accept the enzymes, embracing them as a new part of your DNA. It’s do or die,” Eric concludes.

“And I have to choose one of them before the night ends,” I ask Max.

“Yes, you accepted Four’s invitation,” he repeats himself. “You are free to choose another supernatural creature to mate with but before the clock strikes midnight you need to have attempted a mating or accepted the consequences for refusing both,” Max highlights.

“But you would be the one to kill me, not them,” I double check.

“Yes, my role is to guard both sides, the humans and supernaturals. Rules have to be followed, the punishment in most cases is death. Did you make up your mind?”

“I will choose one of them,” I assure Max and he smiles at me.

“Good girl, not backing down from a fight. I hope to see you tomorrow. Call my name if you need help. They are both hotheads of the worst kind.”

With that Max disappears and I am left alone with my two suitors. Fuck!

 Both Tobias and Eric stand in front of me. They are staring, waiting for my next move.

“I need time to digest everything,” I say and they both stay quiet.

My mind is running miles a minute. All the things I have been told, all the new things I learned about Max, Eric and Tobias. I keep wondering who else is…

“What did Peter do to Christina?”

Eric and Tobias exchange uncomfortable looks.

“He killed her, didn’t he? He ate her,” I amend.

“We didn’t stay long enough to find out,” Eric cautions.

“That scream did not say ‘I love you, Peter, make me yours’, it was more a ‘I am being murdered’,” I growl loudly and Eric adjusts himself.

“Disgusting,” Tobias states with disdain.

“Hot,” Eric corrects and winks at me.

He does look hot when he is cheeky. It’s a new side of him that I haven’t seen even a glimpse of in the two years I have known him. It is a bit if a turn on.

Tobias and Eric both inhale deeply and I feel mortified. Did they smell … that?!?

I turn to Tobias who looks like he is about to say something unforgivable.

“So, you would have to suck my blood out, then I drink some of yours, and for the rest my life I am dependent an drinking blood to stay alive while we do what?! Stay in the shadows together?” Catch them off guard, distract them. It’s a great tactic.

“We would spend the rest of eternity enjoying each other’s company,” Tobias says with an excited glint in his eye.

“We are talking about sex when you say ‘enjoying each other’s company’, right?”

Eric snorts and I glare at him. He shows me his teeth and Tobias hisses, baring his own.

“I would cherish you every day,” Tobias promises.

“That’s not what she asked,” Eric interrupts again.

“Shut up,” Tobias hisses. “Tris?”

“I need you to spell it out for me. Are we ever going to have sex?”

“I like the way you feel,” Tobias admits.

“But?” There always is a but when he talks like that.

“I just want a like minded companion,” he admits and I take a step back, turn to Eric and raise my eyebrow in question.

“I’d keep fucking you every chance I get for the rest of our lives if you survive. There’d be plenty of babies included!”

“So it’s either suck to death or fuck to death?”

Tobias and Eric both nod.

“You are divergent, you are the most likely to survive the change,” Tobias assures.

“Why can’t I make my choice another day? Why the deadline? You,” I turn to Tobias “refused every advance I made. Every touch you shied away from and you,” I turn to Eric “just want me to choose you over him,” I throw my thumb towards Tobias.

“I actually want a girl to survive and become mine,” Eric admits.

I just stare at him, he holds my gaze.

“Do you think I enjoy fucking someone to death? What do you think it does to me when they bleed out on my dick while screaming in horror?”

“Then why do you keep doing it?”

“Because I don’t want to be alone anymore!” Eric shouts, a clear sign that he is losing it. Only at his most agitated does he shout, usually it’s that deadly quiet voice of his that conveys how utterly pissed he is. This is nuclear!

“Well, how much of a choice is it for you if I am already number four on your list? It sounds more like a compromise to me.” I take deep breath, trying to focus on my options. “If I need to choose between living an eternal sexless live while sucking blood every day or being fucked into a coma for a normal human lifespan while popping out babies like a machine, then I think the choice is rather easy.”

Tobias preens while Eric growls.

“Take me to bed, Eric!”

Tobias pounces so fast, I don’t comprehend what happened until I actually land hard. The ground is unforgiving and my bones are jarred. This is going to leave some bruises… oh, who cares about bruises if I am dead?

I choke on my laugh while Eric pins Tobias to the ground, teeth bared and at his throat. Tobias doesn’t give up, though, he is thrashing and trying to buck Eric off while snapping his teeth, hoping he will manage to bite something.

“Did he just try to kill you?”

Eric shakes his head despite his teeth still grazing Tobias throat.

“He tried to kill me,” I gasp in horror.

“You are mine! Eric can’t have you, I will not allow it,” Tobias screams, sounding completely out of his mind.

“Has he gone insane,” I ask quietly.

Eric shrugs his shoulders while Tobias screeches obscenities.

“I will kill you, Tris. You go with Eric and I will kill you and your children, ensuring Eric will lead a miserable and lonely life for his fucking short lifespan. I will not only kill you but defile you, then I will make you watch your sons and daughters being tortured to death! I will…”

Snap!

This time I scream when Tobias’ head detaches. His mouth is still moving, so is his body, but I can’t hear any sound coming out. His vile words have been silenced.

“Fuck,” I gasp. “Why is he not dead?”

“Because it takes more than beheading to kill a vampire,” Eric growls.

“But you can kill him, right?”

Eric just looks at me like that was the most stupidest question ever.

“I…”

Tobias tries to knee Eric in the balls but misses. His knees crashes into Eric’s thigh and by the looks of it Tobias does some serious damage. Eric is gritting his teeth and trying to hold Tobias’ body down but I can see that he is struggling through the pain.

“Max,” I scream loudly and repeatedly.

He reappears as suddenly as he disappeared, not taking long to interpret the scene in front of him. His wings flap and his arms shoot out. Then he is holding Eric by the throat in one hand while the other holds Tobias’ frozen torso.

“Four…”

“Shh, Tris. No need for that, I can see it in their minds,” Max soothes and I sigh in relief. “Are you sure in your choice, Tris?”

“Yes, I choose Eric!”

Max lets go of Eric and then Tobias’ body and head disintegrate.

“What,” I gasp.

“He would have followed through, Tris. A spurned vampire can go either way. He made his choice and these are the consequences. This is the law and Tobias Eaton knew the rules and punishments. He chose this, Tris. Not you, he did! There was always the choice to gracefully accept your choice and back out. He could have tried again next year, just with someone else. You chose Eric, Tobias chose death. Good luck!”

Max disappears after nodding at Eric.

“I need a drink,” I groan.

“Good idea, it might relax you,” Eric agrees.

“That’s not why I need one.”

“I know that but it will do you good, Tris. Max is right, you know. Four knew his options and when faced with the fork in the road he chose giving up. We are Dauntless, we don’t surrender without a fight!”

“Is that what I am doing? Fighting for my survival?”

“In a way, yes,” Eric admits. “Come on, let’s have a drink and then we can go to bed.”

“How romantic!”

“If you make it through the night I will give you as much romance as you want,” Eric promises.

“But you won’t make the effort until you know it’s not a waste of your time,” I conclude.

“Are you upset I am being honest?”

“No,” I admit.

Eric and I share my whiskey, it wasn’t a full bottle but there was a decent amount left and I am happy and relaxed by the time Eric reminds me it is getting late.

“Just do it,” I order and pull my dress off.

Eric looks at me and then to my bedroom door.

“Maybe we should move, Tris. A bed might be nicer,” he suggests.

“Softer to die on?”

“Don’t say shit like that,” Eric exclaims. “A soft mattress and some pillows never hurt.”

“But you are going to hurt me.”

“I am not aiming for it,” Eric assures.

“I am a virgin.”

“Fuck!” Eric curses and curses while I stagger to my bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes in my wake.

I decide to lie down and get comfortable, if I die, I die; if not, then I will get thoroughly fucked for the rest of my life.

“Shit,” Eric groans when he finally follows me into my bedroom.

Then he doesn’t speak. He sheds most of his clothes, keeping his underwear on. No idea why, it is not like he can hide whatever is lying in wait beneath.

The bed dips when he kneels at the foot end and grabs my ankles, pulling me closer to him. His eyes are blazing, there are flashes of red before his head disappears in between my open thighs.

The first thing I feel is his nose nudging me. Then his tongue takes a broad approach and he licks all around. I squirm around and one of his large arms moves to lay over my pelvis, holding me down while his tongue shoots out.

I squeak when it makes contact and then I can’t form a coherent thought. There are so many different feelings mixing and they turn into waves that keep crashing over me. They are overwhelming and trying to pull me under.

“Let go,” Eric growls and it is like he commands my body with his voice. The next second the wave crashes over me and I am pulled under but pushed up high to the sky before crashing back down hard.

I am panting and trying as hard as I can to catch my breath.

“Ssh, Tris. Breathe, baby. Just breathe,” Eric coaches. His head is now on his folded arms and he just looks at me while my racing hard slows down.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I laugh. “This was definitely something,” I admit.

“Good, then brace yourself for the next one,” Eric orders and dives in.

This time he is adding a finger into the mix. I touched myself before but Eric’s finger is so much larger than mine. It is long and thick, and the sensations are different than when I do it.

He nibbles on my clit while adding a second finger. I groan in pain and then moan in pleasure. Eric keeps this up for a while until he decides to scrape his teeth over my clit. Then he squeezes a third finger in and pushes forward. I moan in pain when I feel the pinch but he takes it all away and gives me more pleasure than before in return.

“Tris,” Eric croons while crowding over me. “How do you feel?”

“Like a puddle of goo,” I whisper and nuzzle his cheek. “I have never felt anything like it,” I admit while sliding my lips over his chin. It’s me who melds her lips to his. I am the one who traces his lips with my tongue.

Eric opens up for me but lets me lead.

The kiss deepens and I feel like squeezing my legs, trying to rub my thighs together doesn’t work. Eric’s lips leave mine and he trails kisses down the column of my neck.

“Be brave, Tris,” he whispers and then he presses his erection against my opening, sliding in with surprising ease while my mind focuses on how I missed him stripping out of his underwear. The thought is cut short when I feel Eric’s teeth break my skin. He retracts them and laps at the wound while pushing ahead, forcing his way deep since my body.

“You are doing amazing,” he croons. “You are not screaming in pain, you are still parting for me. There is no end in sight,’ he sighs before licking his bite mark on my neck. “Feel how I fill you. Feel how you take me. This is yours, Tris. I am yours… just a little bit more,” Eric grunts and then stops.

“Just do it, Eric. If I should die this way, I will die happy,” I promise.

“It’s done, Tris. I can’t go further,” Eric groans.

He lifts up onto his elbows and I raise my head to look down the length of our bodies. His pelvis is glued to mine, he really is all in.

“I feel numb, am I bleeding to death?”

Eric chokes but then he bends down awkwardly and runs a finger around my lips and his dick.

“Look, no blood!” He holds up his hand for me to see.

“You are probably plugging me. Your are fucking big,” I moan.

Eric sighs and slowly retracts his hips until he slides all the way out. I am getting a good look at the monster cock attached to him. It is glistening with wetness but there is no blood dripping off of him.

“Touch yourself. You won’t believe me otherwise,” Eric urges and I do. My hand comes away with slightly pink sludge. “That’s just from when I broke your hymen.”

I nod and open my arms wide. Eric returns himself immediately into my wet folds and buries himself deep inside. “I need to, Tris. We are not done until I fill you up,” Eric warns.

“Do it,” I urge and meet him stroke for stroke.

Eric looks absolutely ecstatic. He pumps into me with wild abandon and then he slows his strokes.

“Oh fuck, I heard this would happened but I didn’t know… hang on, Tris. This is the last hurdle. Please be able to take me. Oh god, please be mine,” Eric chants and cants his hips.

His strokes are getting sloppier and he has trouble pushing all the way in. He keeps stopping almost halfway into the strokes and his face is contorting in pain.

“I will love you for the rest of my life,” Eric swears and then he pushes against me with force. It feels like he is trying to breach me, going in as deep as he had been before but can’t. The pressure increases and I moan in pain but then my flesh parts further. Eric slides in and I just feel so full. The end of the painful breach mixed with the weird fullness throws me into an unexpected orgasm.

Eric moans when I flutter around him and then he breaks the skin on my neck again. This bite feels different than the first. It is like something inside me was just waiting for it and now it is pulling Eric into me. He is becoming part of me, and when his breath catches and he growls loudly I feel him twitch deep inside. That moment an invisible band snaps into place and I feel myself being tied to him. His breath is my breath, his pleasure is my pleasure. We are one!

Eric throws his head back and howls, his hips rutting against me and I just moan in bliss. The ecstasy I am feeling is mine and Eric’s, a double force that brings tears to my eyes and causes my vision to blacken out for a few seconds.

I grab a hold of the headboard, Eric’s feet are pushing against the mattress, trying to push him deeper and deeper into me. It doesn’t work but the resulting feelings are like fireworks exploding all over my body. I shiver and shake, and so does Eric.

He gasps for air, looking at the brink of passing out himself but then he inhales and I can see his chest expand. He sucks in air repeatedly and then he crashes his lips to mine while his legs start shaking.

I would have assumed a large man like Eric falling on top of me would make me feel smothered and claustrophobic but I just feel safe and secure, surrounded by my other half.

“My mate,” Eric whispers reverently. “I finally found my mate and she is more than I ever imagined,” he adds.

“You don’t have to sweet talk me. I already am yours,” I assure.

“You are all I ever dreamed of and wished for. I gave up hope for a while,” he admits.

“Shh, I am here now. I am yours. You didn’t kill me, you made me stronger. You made US stronger,” I croon and he nuzzles his mark on my neck, causing me to tense around him.

“Oh fuck “ Eric grunts. I can feel his ass cheeks clench the same time the pressure inside me increases.

“What was that,” I dare ask.

“I think it was this,’ Eric groans and nuzzles my bite mark with his lips again. “Ungh,” Eric groans and his ass turns to stone.

“Oh my god,” I moan when the pressure inside me increases tenfold. “I think I need to pee,” I warn. “Let me go,” I order.

“I can’t, Tris. I am a bit stuck,” Eric moans.

I try to pinch his ass, just to get him to draw back, but it doesn’t work the way I hoped. Instead, Eric pushes deeper into me and moans while I join him. The pressure is almost unbearable.

“I am going to pee myself,” I cry just before Eric attaches his lips to my neck again. “No,” I call out when he moans and the pressure makes my stomach distend. Contrary to what I thought I don’t pee myself, instead a wave of pleasure crashes over me and I black out.

When I come to we are still lying on my bed, Eric on top of me, crooning softly and stroking my skin.

“Hey, you are back.” He smiles and I can’t help but smile back. “How does it feel,” he asks, sounding slightly anxious.

How do I feel? Trying to take stock I notice he is still buried deep since me but there is a small trickle of something running down the apex of my thighs. It almost feels like I am lying in a small puddle. Otherwise my stomach doesn’t hurt anymore and I feel utterly relaxed.

“I am good, but I think I will need a fresh set of sheets, maybe a new mattress.”

Eric laughs a happy laugh. “I am sorry, this is kind of my fault. I locked us together and that means that whatever comes out has no other pace to go than inside you.”

He looks at me while I digest his words.

“Ew?”

“You sound unsure,” Eric states.

“Had you said that yesterday I would have been grossed out but now it kinda feels right. Like this is the way it is supposed to be between us?”

“Yes,” Eric agrees. “This is nature’s way of helping with impregnation.”

“Is this a once in a lifetime mating day occurrence?”

“No, it’s more a happy mated couple occurrence.”

“So you were not joking when you talked about a lot of babies,” I ask despite knowing the answer already.

“I will love any children you give me just as much as I love you!”

“I highly doubt mating comes with a guaranteed love connection,” I snort.

“It doesn’t, Tris. That’s me who is talking about you and only you,” he promises and then he freezes.

“What? What wrong?!”

“No,” Eric whines and then I feel it too. There is a waterfall gushing in between my legs and I shriek loudly while Eric tries to drag me into the bathroom.

It would have been better to just buy a new mattress and sheets, stuff is leaking everywhere and by the time I am standing in the ice cold shower there is only a slight drizzle left.

“Fuck,” Eric curses.

“Yeah, that’s what we got from doing that,’ I quip and Eric gives up on wiping the floor in favour of stepping into the shower with me.

“We’ll figure this out, just like we’ll figure everything else out,” he promises and then he successfully distracts me until it is time to head back into the office on Monday morning.

…

Max and Veronica are clearly waiting to see what has happened to me. The obvious lingering in our small lobby is a dead giveaway.

“Tris, so good to see you,’ Max states and gives me a fierce hug, Veronica follows in his footsteps.

Eric clears his throat and opens his arms as if he wanted to get a hug as well. They both just stare at him before turning back to me and asking all sorts of questions.

Eric huffs but comes closer and closer until his front touches my back. His breath hits my skin first and his lips soon follow. I close my eyes and fist my hands.

“You are at work, I expect you two to behave professionally,” Max growls loudly and Eric slowly removes his lips.

“Don’t you two have that meeting in Erudite to prepare for,” Veronica asks, easily changing the topic to work.

“We might have to refer from doing that in the future,” Max grumbles but his lips move upwards when he looks at Eric and I know deep down he is pleased for us.

“Okay, time to get to work.” Veronica claps her hands and Max follows her down the corridor.

“I’ll see you for lunch,” Eric asks when we stop outside his door.

“Working lunch or making it official lunch?”

“I am not hiding you but we might have to work through lunch. Jeanine is no joking matter but her science department head is even worse,” Eric grouses.

“So I am only going with you to keep my brother on his toes?”

“No, you are there to keep me from killing him or any other asshole that annoys me,” Eric quips and gives me a quick kiss after looking around for possible onlookers, namely Max.

“I’ll order lunch. Any requests?”

“As long as it’s not looking like blood or raw meat I am fine with whatever,” I tease and Eric groans.

“I should have never told you about everyone’s preferred food!”

“No, you shouldn’t have but I appreciate the heads up,” I say honestly. “Now go into your office so I can move over to mine,” I order.

“What if I want to watch your ass while you walk away?”

“You can do that if you want to,” I offer. “But keep in mind that the image will stay with you for the rest of the day while you can do shit until we get home tonight.”

Eric blows me a kiss and slips through his door as quickly as he can.

I pause for a moment, taking a deep breathe before slowly making my way to my own door. Now that there is no audience I can finally walk like the old woman I feel today. I am fucking sore…

Closing my door behind me, I turn on the lights before turning around to my desk.

Moments later my door is splintered into pieces as Eric crashes right through it, followed by Max and Veronica.

“What’s wrong,” Eric bellows, pulling me into his strong arms while shielding me from the rest of the room and I am finally able to stop screaming.

“Well, nice to see you too,” Christina drawls from where she is still sitting, slouched in my office chair, her arms and shoulders hanging limply over my desk. Her eyes are sunken in and she has an abundance of bruises and half healed scratch and bite marks on every bit of skin I can see.

“You look like someone chewed on you and then spit you out, repeatedly,” I screech and she laughs darkly.

“Something like that!”

Max and Eric step closer to her and inhale deeply.

“Ooh, another one,” Veronica exclaims excitedly, stepping forward to stand beside me.

“Peter did that,” I gasp in horror. “Are you fucking kidding me?! You and Peter?”

“Don’t tell me, I know,” Christina moans. “Not that you have a leg to stand on,” she adds, looking pointedly at Eric.

“Hey,” I protest.

“Yeah, I know, I really know… those bad boys are not so bad after all, huh?”

THE END

Yes, I had to cut it off somewhere and no, I don’t have a reasonable explanation for why certain people are supernatural. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it!

Michaela