Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Do you hear me Martyn?” Scott asks coldly, his fingers tracing Martyn’s jaw. A shiver goes down the blonde’s spine as he does that. Just his luck, how did he even get here in the first place? 

“Yes sir! I will bring someone back for you, that's not me I promise!” Martyn says in a high pitched voice. Fear taking over his body as he straightens his posture harshly. His eyes dashed to the other two vampires—Owen and Pyro.

Owen narrows his eyes as he stares coldly at Martyn, in a rough voice, “How would we know he won’t just blab to the town? We should just take him out here.” He says leaning off the tree as he stares straight at the blonde. “Nobody can hear his screams from here anyway—”

“Owen.” 

“I’m just staying. I brought him here to feed us. What’s the point of playing this game—”

“Owen.” Scott says a firmer tone, shooting a glare at the younger vampire. 

Owen stops talking after that. How did he forget? He is talking to Scott, an elder vampire who lived over thousands of years. He is a mere two-hundred not even, he was asleep for all those years anyway so it doesn’t really count.

Pyro, who wasn’t even staying at anything, bit his tongue to avoid making a sound. He’s new to all of this. Truthfully he wishes they all can just gaslight Martyn to leave them alone but atlas that doesn’t seem to be the plan. All Pyro sees is that it’s going to be more trouble than it’s worth.  

“Martyn~” Scott says in a silky voice. He points to the general direction of town. “I would suggest you start running now. It will get dark soon.” And with that being said Martyn ran off without saying any last word for the three.

“Sire.” Pyro starts to speak. Gaining Owen's attention and Scott’s playful gaze on him. “If you don’t mind me asking—”

“I don’t.” Scott interveins. 

“What’s the point of sending Martyn to get us someone else? The fate is going to be the same for them, isn’t it?” His thoughts were racing the whole time. Pyro’s change was a complete accident. Shelby was turned on purpose for Scott, he likes his roommate. There is no reason to keep Martyn alive, they could’ve drained him dead right then and there. 

“Simple. A conflict. Think how glorious this betrayal could be! It will be a show for me to watch.” Scott turns around with a wide grin and excited eyes at the scene in front of him. Like he can’t wait for the plot twist to reveal itself to a book Pyro wasn’t aware he was reading.

Or living in.

Warily, Pyro’s gaze lands on Owen who is just staring at Scott with a confused and annoyed expression. 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just wait and find out. Right now, let's turn the beacon.” Scott says simply, as he heads down the crypt.

Pyro follows him down. After a couple minutes Owen let out an exasperated sigh and followed the other down too, turning the warm honey color light to a bloody red.  

🗡🗡🗡

Apo was just walking around the borders in the town of Oakhurst. Those walls don’t look sturdy enough, she should spend some time in the mines to replace the wood with stone, it’s less flammable that way! 

Even though they're here for military reasons this won’t stop them from making this place pretty and safe (yes pretty of course it needs to be pretty Apo likes pretty things—like the roses her girlfriend planted in their garden). 

Apo adjusts her shawl, fidgeting with the rose before continuing forward. Maybe she should gather more silver? It is sturdy material for—Apo feels a hand placed on her shoulder catching her off guard. Turning around she sees recognizable blonde hair and his signature hair band, it’s the one and only rich boy. 

Martyn. 

“Martyn? What’s up with you?” Apo asks, turning fully to face him. He looks like he saw a ghost. Wide eyes, slight shaking, mouth slightly open—like he was going to say something but didn’t actually know what to say—pale face, and just looks so jumpy. 

Martyn didn’t respond, just stared. 

“Martyn.” Apo said his name again, firmer. He jumped when his name was called, blinking rapidly. 

“Did something happen? Why do you look like you saw something—-” Martyn roughly grabbed Apo by the shoulders and just said in a low voice, “Follow me.” 

Without any warning he grabs Apo’s arm and begins pulling them away from town. Oh what the hell this is weird, what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck. A thousand thoughts are going in Apo’s head as they’re getting pulled.

Where is Martyn taking her? What happened to make him this worried? Should she tell the others? No. She is from the military and she is the best at handling the situation—hopefully. But she doesn’t have many tools on her, only a silver axe, she needs to go back. Martyn is on a rush though. Is someone injured? Is someone stuck somewhere and can’t get out? Is someone dead?

…

Is someone dead?

Is someone dead?

“Martyn. Is someone dead?” The question slips across their lips like a chill breeze. They’re deep in the woods now and in hindsight that must be a very unnerving question to ask to someone who is in a clear panic. 

“WHAT?” Martyn shouts, regaining some colors on his face somehow, as he turns to Apo. “No no nobody is dead—”

Then what is happening? Apo asks again, stepping back from Martyn to activate her saint's ability, she can feel the extra strength (hearts) coming in as she closes her eyes.

One.

Two.

Three—

“Just. I saw something disturbing and I want to show it to someone so I’m not crazy and you were the first one—” Martyn’s voice is shaky as she says this, his eyes darting everywhere like he is afraid of being attacked. 

Apo looks around where Martyn is frantically looking. Nothing. 

“If it’s that bad we should tell the others. There are strengths in numbers after all—” Apo begins to suggest, breaking her concentration. Something is wrong and she needs to tell the others, warn them. Martyn needs to explain what he saw—

“NO TIME WE JUST GOT TO GO!” Martyn yells, grabbing Apo’s wrist harshly as he begins to run again, forcing Apo to match his pace. 

“WHAT IS GOING ON MARTYN?” Then a thought just hit them. What if he found evidence that vampires exist and that is why he grabbed her? In that case why can’t they get M? “HOLD ON. IF IT RELATES TO THE VAMPIRES SHOULDN’T WE GET M?--” Apo crashes into his back since he just suddenly stopped. 

“Okay Martyn, what the hell?” Apo says with unintentional venom as she just stares at the blonde. Who was…his eyes look so creepy. Martyn is staring down the dark, dark Crypt. 

Shouldn’t there be a beacon there? Wait a minute.  

Apo pushes themself up and lights up a torch, pointing it inside and squinting her eyes to see better. The beacon is now a bloody red now. Great. 

“It wasn’t like that this morning. Definitely more evidence towards our theories ...we should go down and deal with it Mar—tyn?” 

Apo turns around to see Martyn coming towards, hands out ready to push her down. Quickly, Apo drops her torch—it rolls down deep into the Crypt—and disarms Martyn, holding his wrists tightly. 

“Martyn what the hell?” She says, holding his wrists tighter, “What has gotten into you? Why are you so scared?" His eyes start darting again, between Apo and inside the Crypt—something is in there and it scared him shitless. 

“Martyn, what is inside the crypt?” Apo asks. Martyn doesn’t answer. 

“Martyn.” 

“Please understand and believe when I say, I’m sorry.” What. 

Martyn suddenly unlocks his saint's ability, startling Apo into letting go of his wrists. Ah shit. Apo stumbles down for a little bit before grabbing onto the stone walls harshly to stop her fall—the peaks of her fingertips now bleeding from her action.

“MARTYN WHAT THE HELL?” Apo yells at him. What is wrong with him today? What happened? He was okay this morning. They were going to continue on their mission of believing in the supernatural which may or may not be true (evidence is piling up that it is true) and now he is doing this.

Martyn's eyes are just wide open and his mouth is moving but not making any sounds. Like he can’t find the words to speak about what is happening to him. So many stutters and stumbles and him constantly mouthing ‘I’m sorry’. Why is he saying he’s sorry?

Is there a vampire down there?

Oh saints, did he get threatened by it?

“Martyn. Did you have contact with a vampire?” Apo, slightly cringes at how she worded it but that doesn’t matter! She said with a worried tone, if Martyn saw a vampire that would explain his behavior! But why is he pushing her down to the crypt? Is the vampire there? 

“Mar—” Apo couldn’t say his name again because Martyn got up close to her and forcefully pushed her down into the dark  crypt—with its beacon shining a bloody red. Tumbling down the unkept stone steps, covering herself in cuts and  slightly skinning her right arm—as they fail to stop her fall—Apo finally reaches the bottom. 

Apo gets a moment to catch her breath, her whole body aching as she pushes herself up. Saints, she can feel the blood drippings down her arm. 

Ugh of course she’s bleeding. Just don’t think about it Apo. It’s fine. Don’t throw up, it is the last thing you need right now.  She repeats this to herself for a moment as she continues pushing herself up to stand.  

“APO?” Martyn yells down the crypt, making Apo’s head snap up to the entrance—and now exit—of the crypt, the dim light of the sun shining through. 

Apo feels something in her chest which they have dubbed to be her anger, gripping onto the wall, they yell back, “MARTYN WHAT THE FUCK? I’M GOING TO COME UP THERE AND YOU WILL TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!”

“I’M SO SORRY APO YOU AREN’T ALLOWED BACK INTO TOWN!” What. 

That’s so stupid you put me here in the first place! I’m coming back and beating your ass rich boy– 

And the moment he said that, the little bit of sunlight Apo could see before was suddenly gone. Not even the blood red light of that moon can be seen—if it even was risen up. Martyn didn’t trap her in here did he? 

Martyn didn’t leave her here did he? 

They can’t lie to herself now. This is her reality.

He left. 

“Martyn what the actual fuck I don’t have a pickaxe—” Something moved behind her. She isn’t alone. They take a moment to feel her surroundings. A very cold presence is behind her and she refuses to look. And then suddenly, everything clicks in Apo’s head at this moment. Martyn fed her to a vampire, she’s fucking vampire food. 

There is a vampire behind her. 

Or two. 

Oh saints. 

Cherri is going to have a field day reading the letter Apo will send her after she crawls out of the grave Martyn pushed her into.

Apo squats down to pick up her axe and tries climbing up, if they—whoever ‘they’ are— believe Apo didn’t notice them, maybe she could get out unscathed. 

Maybe they'll be okay. 

Maybe she can leave and not die and stay human.

And they absolutely at the least, will slap Martyn across the face for almost killing her.

Saints her arm hurts, her whole body hurts, it hurts to stand it hurts to move, it hurts to do anything! But she is going to do it. She refuses to die in a dark glorified ditch that Martyn pushed her in! Holding her axe in her left hand—her non-dominant hand which is annoying but it's fine—they climb up the stoney stairs, at a slower pace then she would’ve liked but it’s something which is all they could afford right now. Her right arm, shaking, is stinging with pain, saints she can feel the blood just spilling with every movement she takes. 

Apo really hopes that Leg’s has enough bandages to cover and injury this big—-however big this is. They’re too scared to look. Fainting and throwing up from looking at blood right now is not ideal!

She climbs the steps.

One.

By one. 

By one.

Until they reached her supposed exit. It bared off with piles on top of piles of cobblestone. How annoying. Apo doesn’t have a pickaxe with her right now which is so annoying but whatever she is fine with, they’ll just use her axe on her non-dominant hand and get out with no problem! Easy!

Fuck—another wave of pain came at her. This is going to take a while; they might just die bleeding out right here! 

“That looks like a pretty bad cut there. Do you actually think you won’t bleed out and die at this rate before you even reach town?”—someone summoned a devil right next to her. It was said by a man with a stupidly, deceptively calming voice. 

Owen.

He’s a vampire? Just her luck. 

Apo elects to ignore him as they lift her axe shakily with both of her hands and jabs it between the cobblestone and begins prying, opening her exit. Very, very, slowly. Another wave of pain can be felt as she does this, making her wince, but she can’t stop. They will leave and beat the shit out of Martyn and send her letter to Cherri, she will, she will. She will.

“Did that fall make you deaf or are you just ignoring me?” Owen asks her again, irritated. 

Now you have to believe her when Apo says they want to preserve her life.

But engaging in banter that will piss someone off should not hurt anyone. It really shouldn’t. 

However the saints say otherwise! Fuck them and her inability to hold their tongue. 

“Maybe I just want to talk to you because I need to slap the shit out of Rich-boy!” Apo says with scorn, as she lifts her axe again and aims at the wall of cobblestone. That part of the cobblestone shattering a falling at her feet, one block down, a couple more to go…

Owen snorts, leaning (supposedly, Apo can’t see) against the stone wall across from her as he keeps talking. “You know there is another way for you to leave and you know, to not bleed out a die.” 

“If you find another exit from this place do tell.” Apo says with no mind to follow him. Another block of cobblestone is below her feet now, just a couple more, a bit of light is peaking out—

“Right, down, there.” Owen says slowly, as he snatches their face into his hand—breaking her concentration from the cobblestone—and forces her to look down into the void. “All you have to do is go down there willingly.” 

Apo still has her axe in her shaking hands. She doesn’t want to know what else or who else is down there and has the full intention of leaving here alive. 

So, she does the only thing they can. Quickly, they lift her axe up and aims it at Owen, forcing him to fall back down in the crypt. He lets out a painful shout from the sudden attack and tries to swipe at her with his…claws? Oh that is horrifying.

Swiftly, Apo’s focus is back at the cobblestone wall they’re almost done breaking, she can see the dimming light peaking through. Just a bit more—

The saints declared she is the wicked one right? No? Then why are they falling back down into the crypt? She was so close, so close! They could even see the sunlight—or what was left of it from the day—peering out of the cracks! Apo was so close. So close…  

She could’ve made it out if she was just a bit faster. If they just broke the last bit of the cobblestone wall and crawled out. 

Apo could’ve made it out.

Instead of being able to leave, Owen came rushing back, grabbing her bad arm and pulling her down into the darkness.

She is falling.

Falling.

Falling…

Apo landed roughly on her bad arm, the pain making her dizzy and scream on the harsh contact, still having a grip on the axe. Her silver axe. The silver that should deal with vampires with no problem. 

“....”

Apo isn’t speaking, she is breathing heavily. In and out. In and out.  “Where is the exit Owen?” They ask shakily, making banter with the enemy? Anything to keep her sane she guesses. 

Keeping her alive is a question yet to be answered. 

Apo pushes themself up, axe in hand. Holding her silver axe with a grip that could kill with her bad arm. A wave of pain is felt in her arm but they don't falter. No, She will deal with them as swiftly as she can and go home (and warn everyone too).

“So~” The voice from her right starts, icy, and silky smooth. “This is the meal Martyn decides to deliver to us? Oh…they’re bleeding.” 

“Scott.” Apo spats with venom. Who would’ve known, Avid was right. 

If only they listened…no worth crying about it now. 

“Apo! I know someone is very happy to see you.” Apo can only guess Scott said this with a sly smirk, which she is going to slap off his stupid face the moment she gets her stance back.

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Apo is having a proper fighting grip with her axe now, and in a fighting position—the pain in her arm still stinging with pain and bleeding horrendously, to the point they can feel the unholy amount of blood drenching her sleeve. 

Saints, how is she alive? 

Wait a minute.

Apo just needs to stand for a minute and it will unlock her saint's ability. 

The countdown starts now, they need to stall before they book it. 

Apo can hear Owen coming down the steps of the crypt behind her, horrendously slow trying to make an ‘entrance’ with ‘presentation’–she can only assume really (even though she knows she’s right).

“Pyro, say hi to your roommate~” Apo felt like her brain short-circuited for a moment. Pyro? 

Granted Martyn and M did talk about the possibility of Pyro being a vampire but she shut it down! There is no way he is one, he’s her roommate.

Right? 

Something is wrong. Or maybe they're just thinking wrong?

Pyro isn’t an evil vampire, he’s Pyro! They have a pig together and everything! They’re friends. 

Apo looks around frantically (while trying to stand still), she roughly makes out a silhouette that looks like Pyro and just in pure disbelief chokes out, “Pyro?” Saints it sounds like she is going to cry, and maybe she is! Who cares at this point? Certainly not her!

Nope! Not at all! 

Saints if you truly punish the wicked and bring fortune for the good, how is this good?

“Hi…hi roomie.” Pyro says uneasily, maybe he doesn’t know what to do in this situation too. Maybe they have an ally in this after all. Maybe. 

Is that a lie or not, she can’t tell.

“Where is the exit Pyro?” Desperation can be heard in Apo’s tone when she asks.  

“Pyro?”

“There is no exit, Apo.” Pyro says simply and slowly. Before presumably taking a step forward towards her. Apo gets in her fighting stance, axe in hand. 

She’s still bleeding. 

She’s getting dizzy from the blood loss.

She isn’t planning to die though. 

Ability is active, they feel slightly healthy again. Apo can fight. She will break herself out of this grave, promise. 

I promise Cherri.

“Can we please have our dinner now? She is basically spoiling! Let’s drain her before they die please?” Owen says in an unsavory tone making Apo retort, “Hey I don’t like bleeding either! So shut up!” Apo points her axe in the general direction at where Owen is—good, her arm isn’t shaking right now. 

“Uh uh uh~” Scott she guesses (and guesses right) grabs her wrist–on her bad arm–tightly and makes her drop her axe. “We’re trying to be nice, Apo.” Apo is trying, and failing, at prying Scott’s hand off her wrist—they can feel more blood spill from her and her light-headedness getting worse, even with the ability.

The saints can only do so much she guesses. 

“Well I’m not blood-sucking-bastard!” Apo cries as she aims to grab Scott’s shoulder with her free hand and throws him over her shoulder with the power of spite and the adrenaline they gotten from her ability—temporarily removing some of her pain.

Successfully throwing Scott over her shoulder, confirmed by the grunt of pain he let out, she grabbed her silver axe on the floor and began to dash up the stairs again. If Owen gets in her way she is just going to fight him. 

And she does. 

“Oh no you don’t—” Owen didn’t even get to finish what he was saying before Apo swung her silver axe–presumily–at his head, pushing him down to the darkness of the crypt, and more importantly, making him shut up. 

Thud.

She herself continued up to her exit, dashing to her ticket out. Axe in hand she begins prying and breaking down the cobblestone barrier with the new found strength (and desperation) they have in their muscles. 

Finally, after a couple of minutes that felt too long she was able to make a crack that is big enough to crawl though. Finally! She can leave. So why isn’t Apo going through immediately? 

Pyro. 

Saints, she does not want to leave him behind to the mercy of Scott and Owen. 

But before you take care of people you need to take care of yourself first…Apo goes forward and crawls through the hole they made, successfully making it to the other side, being welcomed with the bright, red moon shining down on her. 

That color makes her want to puke.

A wave of scrutinizing, absolutely, agonizing pain is felt in her arm, guess the ability ran out (fuck her). 

“I can make it.” Apo says to herself simply as she begins sprinting (much to her body’s demise). They know where the town is, they can make it—she can sense someone chasing her, along with the many, many, squeaks of bats. 

“You can’t run Apo~” Scott. Fucking lovely…

“She’s spoiling! I told you!” 

“Stop resisting Apo you’re going to die at this rate—” Oh shut up Pyro you didn’t save her. 

Apo makes a note to self as she continues running away from these hungry vampires, hiding Truffle from Pyro.

“Oh shut up Pyro, it’s not like you helped us deal with her—” 

“I wasn’t going to ruin my past relationship with her like that!--”

“I’m pouncing on her.” Oh hell no. 

With any extra energy they could muster up, Apo pushes herself forward, narrowly missing Scott landing on her (and grabbing her to suck her blood). She continues sprinting, through the pain, through the dizziness from the bloodloss, through everything—Apo Kuna is going to make it back to Oakhurst. 

The trees are all starting looking the same and the path is fading out, and now all grass. She needs to trust her memory now and get to town—someone grabs her by the hair and pulls her back, making her hit roughly against a tree.

“Stop running—” Apo slaps Scott across the face and kicks him away from her. “Nope! I refuse! I don’t want to buy anything you’re selling!” Apo yells back at him as they run farther and farther into the woods. 

The wind howling, shadows watching her every move and three hungry vampires hunting her and Apo purposely threw hands with two of them! Is she in town yet—-ow, Apo is convinced all the blood in her right arm is all gone now (that’s a joke) and is just a piece of flesh that just gives her waves of pain every time they move it (they’re in so much pain and can’t scream, saints save her she swears she isn’t that wicked).

Walking dead meat. That is what Apo had become. They are going to show up to Oakhurst doorstep as walking dead meat. 

They are so dizzy. If Apo just slows down, takes a breather, she’ll be okay—someone crashes on top of her and pins her to the ground. Someone….CRASHES ON TOP OF HER AND PINS HER ONTO THE GROUND.

Fuck her life. 

Apo’s vision barely stabilizes but she is already shoving her hand at whoever pinned her down—using her left hand that is. He (Owen, she can see a bit clearly now) is holding down her right hand making her scream. 

If that scream doesn’t call the humans I am going to haunt everyone.

“Get off me Owen–-" Owen didn’t listen to her chatter, their screams, nothing. He just grabbed her arm, covered in blood and licked it for a second before biting down fully and drinking her blood–or what was left there. 

Apo just screamed as she struggled and tried to actively kick Owen off of her. 

“Get off of me. GET OFF OF ME!---” 

Owen temporarily takes his fangs off of her and….fucking offers her to Pyro? Oh what the actual hell Owen? WHAT THE HELL?!

“Come on Pyro. Take a sip. I know you’re thirsty…” Owen entices to him…Apo just gives him a look that just tells him ‘don’t you fucking dare’, painful tears spilling off her face.

“Pyro…” Apo chokes out.

Pyro walks forward and carefully as he could, takes Apo’s hand away from Owen.

No.

No. 

No no no no no NO NO NO—-

Pyro kisses her bloody arm, before biting down. It hurts. More than Owen’s bite. Pyro is hungry. He’s so hungry. 

“PYRO LET GO—” Apo screams as they try to yank her arm away from him—the bleeding gets worse. The successful yank on her arm worked for a moment only for Pyro to grab her arm again—with more force—and bite down again, harder. 

More blood comes into her vision, they want to throw up, she is going to throw up but her throat is so raw. 

Something else happens, something is injected to her when Pyro bites down again, and they scream. Her whole body is burning alive and she can feel her blood being drained out of her body. 

With the little energy she can scrap together in her predicament she starts kicking anything and everything she can feel in her way. To move, push her off the ground so she can have a ledge to stand, to kick these stupid vampires in the face, anything! 

And then suddenly, against her own will, her body is calm. Whatever was injected into her spread to the rest of her body. Her breathing becomes concerningly slow and—-oh. They know what is happening to her. 

“Pyro you did it again!”

“I’m so sorry Sire but listen, I can’t let her die! I just can’t—-”

So this shit is intentional. 

Owen makes a little ‘tic’ sound, “So we’re just going to take her in too? There is barely enough food as there is!” He exclaims, getting up from Apo’s right side towards Scott presumably–they’re bickering. Apo only caught a bit of the conversation. 

“She will be a burden—”

“She will be powerful for us. Useful. We need people like that.” Scott says simply as he walks towards her, bloody, tattered and just overall looking worse for wear. 

“Aren’t you glad? That Pyro saved you?”

Apo is ignoring him though, they’re looking at Pyro as much as they can. She can’t stop crying. Her vision blurred with her tears, she can’t see. Her tears are turning red…her heartbeat slowing down so much. 

Oh saints, she isn’t going to die…she’s going to become one of them. 

Become a vampire. 

Fuck her, fuck them, fuck the military, fuck the government, fuck her fear of blood, FUCK EVERYTHING! 

Apo's eyes began to become heavy with drowsiness, and as they began to slowly close them only for the last thing for her to hear is. “AYE! GET AWAY FROM MISS APOKUNA OR HELL WILL BURN YOU FOR ETERNITY DONT CHA KNOW?”

Took them long enough.

🗡🗡🗡

Apo wakes up in a cold sweat and an itchy throat. As her eyes snaps open, they are welcomed by the darkness—laying in it actually! Where is she? Apo still has her motor-controls; wiggling her fingers and toes to sense if she feels anything. The first thing they realize (besides the darkness) is that Apo isn’t in pain—oh thank the saints. 

Okay! Let’s play a game called ‘good news’ and ‘bad news’! This is absolutely not a game Apo made it up to…keep her sane? She has been saying that a lot recently, she doesn’t know if her sanity is intact right now. 

Anyway, the game.

Good news! Her arm is no longer hurting anymore and they have energy in her limbs again! And no blood. Oh thank the saints no more blood. She can feel her arm being wrapped around tightly with bandages and her sleeve on her military uniform being unfortunately cut off—Apo really hopes she doesn't need to pay a fee to the military for wrecking it. 

Bad news is that she is trapped in a dark, narrow place and doesn’t know what is happening. Is this a nightmare? Or hell? If this was hell Apo expects to be set on fire by now but they digress. 

Also her throat is itchy. Like really itchy. Apo needs to get her hands on a bottle of water immediately after she gets out of this void of a place—-oh wait…water might now work. Didn’t Pyro do something to her? Didn’t they get turned?

Before Apo can dwell on that fact any more she remembers something else (ignoring the previous fact she does not want to acknowledge), the last thing that happened before they lost consciousness was hearing the guy with the cursed tongue come in to try to save her…so who has her right now? The vampires or the town members? 

Preferably she would hope it was the townsfolk to grab her.

As Apo feels the space around her—narrow and just really claustrophobic—she can infer it’s made out of wood! And it’s shaped in a certain way, like it’s supposed to hold a human…a one who is supposed to stay still. 

A dead human. 

Oh. 

Oh noooooooo…..

Those vampires got her in the end and now they are in a coffin in that creepy tomb they found during her first week here! A part of her hoped that the townsfolk got her back and took care of her but of course that didn’t happen! She’s here, in that tomb, stuck with Scott, Owen and…and Pyro….

Did Pyro bandage her arm? No that isn’t what happened it’s done too professionally…. 

And then, the sudden realization hits her as she remembers what happened, wait fuck she’s a vampire too (actually calling it by the name is so strange). And they need to drink blood. Apo doesn't like blood. 

Saints she fails the military and now fails at being a monster? Just her luck! Lovely, lovely, lovely~ she is going to slap Martyn the next time she sees him for sacrificing her to the devils in this town.

Hopefully that slap doesn’t kill him.

…

Apo can feel her limbs cramping the more time she spends in this coffin, she needs to get up and walk around. Formulating a plan she puts her hands on top and tries to push the lid off so she can get out. 

And they do.

Very easily. 

It just pops off like it was nothing and Apo is welcomed with a dusty shed(?). Annoying but whatever, at least she is fine. (Minus the unfathomable urge in her throat that is making her want to bite which she is electing to ignore for the moment.) It’s better than the crypt. Pushing herself up they heard a gasp, turning around to look it’s M…Apo doesn’t know if they should feel relief or dread. 

“YOU’RE ALIVE?!” “You know what, at least you’re not Scott.” They both speak at the same time. As Apo is pushing herself up M continues rambling. Apo grabs onto the shelves in the shed to stabilize herself—-they’re so hungry. The situation she’s in finally dawns on her, or more like, she has always known what she was in, she was just ignoring it. And watching M’s throat fluctuate like that, Apo just wants a bite—

NO WAIT NO! Apo catches herself and gags, they shouldn’t, no. And they know they’ll hate it. But she’s so hungry BUT ALSO SHE WANTS TO KEEP HER HUMANITY—-

Another person enters, it’s Martyn…if Apo wasn’t so busy holding back the bile in her throat she would’ve punched him in the face by now. 

“Apo…”

“Martyn” Apo says with venom, making him flinch. Standing straighter now Apo walks towards the two, she just wants to talk. 

“Stay…stay back vampire!” Martyn exclaims loudly, pointing his silver sword towards her ready to pounce. M is now standing behind him, looking confused for a bit before his eyes are wide with realization. He runs out of the shed yelling about how ‘Apo woke up’ and ‘they’re a vampire now’ and whatever else he is crying about to everyone Apo could care less, her focus is just on the blonde in front of her.

Apo hopes her humanity stays intact.

“For what? For you to kill me again?” Apo states, daring to walk forward, Martyn takes a step back out of fear—ironic since he has the upper hand in this situation technically. Apo continues, “What did you tell town exactly? That you didn’t set me up to be vampire food? That you did everything in your power to save me and still failed? That you weren’t responsible for killing me?” They are speaking louder now not only for Martyn to hear her better but also to project her voice to the people who came out to watch. 

It was only a few days ago where they were all being friendly together and Apo thought it will be okay, it will be okay~ for the next six months. There is nothing wrong with the company right? Dead wrong. Literally.

“MARTYN GETS OUT OF THERE!” Avid yells for Martyn, making the blonde shut the door for the shed shut, “trapping” Apo. Are they stupid? Apo walks forward and kicks the door down, startling the humans. 

They’re so thirsty, her eyes darted between everyone.

Martyn, Avid, Drift, Doctor, Cleo, Pearl, Abolish, Renhart, M…and a little group of bats hiding in her tower, watching her. 

Taking everything in Apo lets out a manic giggle, this is human right? “Did you think that would stop me? I could kick that door down with no problem if I was still human Martyn.” Vampire or not, Apo is still in the military, and she gained muscle from it.

“Get out vampire—” Avid shrieks at her as he comes at her with a stake, which Apo effortlessly dodges. Kicking Avid to the side, disregarding him entirely, focusing back to Martyn.

“Someone explain to me what happened after I blacked out.” Apo asks loudly to the town, glaring at daggers at Martyn. It would be nice to hear the lies that Martyn told them but right now she needs to figure out what happened in her sleep. 

Martyn doesn’t answer, looking at the ground uncomfortably, fidgeting in place with his fist clenched. He never told them, did he. 

The Doctor, Legundo, walks forward in Martyn’s silence. Gently he pushed Martyn behind him and proceeded to approach Apo with caution—not a surprise. 

“Renhart, Abolish, Martyn, and myself were able to chase the vampires away. They did try to take you with them, we assumed it was to turn you, but we didn’t let them....” Oh? He needs to pick out his words carefully? What happened…Apo’s eyes narrowed at the wall of a man in front of her, allowing him to go on, “You lost so much blood and weren't breathing anymore Apo…” The Doctor said with distraught in his voice. 

Apo just stares at him with…sympathy? They might as well give it to the person who tried to save her life even though they were long gone. 

“I tried so hard. Sometimes I can hear your faint heartbeat and thought you were coming back only for it to be silent again—” He takes a deep breath in and out, continues, “I’m sorry I’m getting off topic here…” The Doctor takes a moment to get a hold of themself. Apo’s eyes dashes between everyone, they’re all looking hostile: Avid is back standing next to Drift who is worrying over him, Pearl and Cleo are whispering about something (probably about her), Abolish is just watching, and everyone else is hostile with a weapon in hand—except for M, he is holding a notebook taking notes. 

Apo’s eyes land back at the Doctor and she begins to talk, “So you put me in a coffin?” 

“After twenty-four hours of trying to resurrect you I had to make that call. I’m sorry. If I were to know you were a vampire I would’ve tried something different to get you to wake up…at least something that wouldn’t have been you essentially sleeping for three days—”

“YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE HER BLOOD?” Avid (LOUDLY) accuses the Doctor, holding his stake in his hand—Drift is holding him back and in a hush tone telling him to calm down.

Ugh blood, Apo holds back a gag. It is clearly unfortunate that out of people the vampires turned into the one person who can’t even look at blood. And the three day nap? Not the worst thing that could’ve happened to her.

At least they didn’t bury her here.

“Apo is my patient and it is my purpose to look after her. I will not reject her just because they became a vampire…they needed help not rejection.” The Doctor said in a piercing voice, not only targeted towards Avid but announcing it to everyone 

Huh.

“You’re a good Doctor, Doc…at least you didn’t leave me for dead.” Apo says simply staring back at Martyn who just takes a step back at her gaze. 

“What are we talking about?” Pearl starts, she looked confused the whole time and just looks even more confused now. Pearl continues, “Martyn told us he lost you in the woods when you guys went to check on a beacon. You guys got chased and unfortunately split up…he couldn’t find you and came back to town to tell us what happened…” Pearl's voice went quiet at the end, like the gears in her head were finally clicking too.

Martyn lied. 

Apo just looks at her with a look of exhaustion and opens her mouth to reply, “Martyn. You were once considered my friend. Had thrown me into the crypt full with three hungry vampires. I barely escaped and tried to make a run for it only to get drained and turned anyway. You all, we're too late. I died.” Her eyes darts between everyone’s faces, expressing a mix of hurt, guilt and anger—-or just being neutral, Apo does not understand Abolish at all. 

The last person she looks at is the Doctor, who just looks distraught. I wonder what he thinks? Is he upset that he couldn’t save her? Apo guesses that might be it, any decent doctor will be upset if their patient died on them.

“Apo…”

“Hm?”

“Are you in pain? How’s your arm?” The Doctor asks gently, seems like he wants to check on his patient. Apo looks at her right arm, her sleeve for her military uniform was ripped off and her shawl is barely hanging on and her whole arm is covered by bandages. They untie the slightly bloodied bandages (trying best not to gag) and just let it fall down to the ground. Her arm is healed like nothing has ever touched it! Except of course, a certain bite mark from a certain vampire. 

“Pyro…” Apo says in a soft tone. 

“Pyro turned you?” Martyn asks, honestly the nerve. Giving a dirty side eye she was about to take him down a notch only to be interrupted by a familiar voice. The voice of her roommate. 

“She was bleeding to death. What did you expect me to do? Let her die like you did.” Pyro says plainly, detransforming from bat form to his humanoid form to stand next to her. His hand on her shoulder before she shakes it off and makes a swift move to create some distance between them. 

Pyro, caught off-guard by her movement lowers his hand to the side and into his pocket, saying a simple “Sorry” to her. 

“Way to reveal we’re here Pyro! Nice going–” Owen spats, detransforming from bat form, standing a bit more behind them. Scott and Shelby are there too, keeping silent, just watching. 

For now. 

“Okay great! Now she brought backup—” Martyn starts, about to use his saints’ ability only to be interrupted by a booming voice that forces him to stop, “That’s enough coming from you Martyn, Let’s hear out Apo. Apo do you want to say anything?” The Doctor asks ever so kindly. 

Too bad Apo won’t reciprocate, maybe turning made her meaner.

Apo swears they still have their humanity. They swear. 

But sometimes you just gotta choose yourself.

“You know what Doc, there has been something happening to me that makes me feel…bad.” Apo raises her hands to her throat and wraps it around her neck, “I’ve been feeling very, very, thirsty.” The silence was so apparent you could hear a pin drop after Apo said that. 

They know she’s a vampire, they know her morals, so what are they going to do? 

Apo's eyes darted between everyone, most of them ranged from disturbed to disgusted at what they had said, Abolish took a step forward (as if to get a closer look), and the Doctor just looked at her with full concentration. 

“Would animal blood suffice? Or does it have to be human?” The Doctor asks. Now this is Apo’s time to be surprised (holding back the bile in her throat) they let go of her neck and actually covers her mouth and shakes her head. 

“No?” 

“Apo…?” Pyro asks gently, reaching out. 

“I don’t want to drink blood Doc. Seeing blood makes me—” Apo needs to hold back a gag, “Make me want to puke.” Apo chokes out, “What are you going to do now?” This time Apo spares a glance at the vampires, Owen has a look of pure disbelief, Scott is a mix of a lot of things—fear, worry, disbelief, flabbergasted etc—Shelby is horrified at the implication on what they had just said and Pyro stretches his hand out for Apo with a look of pure determination on his face. 

“Pyro…?” Apo asks cautiously. 

“Join the Coven Apo, we won’t let you starve. I won’t let you starve.” Pyro pleads as he takes another step forward towards her, Apo doesn’t move. 

“Apo.” The Doctor starts, grabbing Apo’s attention, “Don’t, we can find a cure and you can be human again.”

To be human? Wait yes Apo wants that yes! 

“You promise?” Apo asks first, if they learned anything from her experience recently is to always ask more questions. 

“Yes.”

“That it will work?”

“Well yes—”

“And even if it doesn’t work you and the rest of town won’t kill me for still being a vampire?”

“Yes—”

“Don’t speak for all of us!” Avid shouts, Apo looks around at the remaining humans in Oakhurst—almost all of them had a weapon up of some kind now…even Drift. They were going to kill Apo no matter what, whether she was with the Coven or not as long as she was a vampire most of the townsfolk here would rather he be dead.

Decision is made then.

Sorry Truffle. She’ll pick you up later, hope there are enough carrots in your pen to last a while. 

“You’re a good Doctor Doc...I’m sorry but,” Apo takes a step towards Pyro and takes his hand, “I don’t think I will be coming back.” 

Even Pyro was a bit surprised at her taking his hand but he grasped onto it tightly anyway, afraid to let go almost.

“WAIT NO APO—”

And with that, following Pyro’s lead, Apo turns into a flutter of bats and leaves the town of Oakhurst. 

It’s kinda strange how she was able to transform and fly out almost instantly. 

🗡🗡🗡

They land in front of the Castle, Owen first, Scott, Shelbly, and then Pyro and Apo. The moment Apo lands back into her humanoid form they’re immediately tackled into a hug by Shelby. 

“OH THANK SAINTS YOU JOINED US! I’m so grateful we got another girl in the group now!” Shelby exclaims excitedly, giving Apo an even tighter hug. Apo just lets out a little laugh and hugs her back, awkwardly but still hugs her back. Even with her prior interactions with Shelby was the least maddening in this group, Apo is grateful that a warm presence like Shelby is here—esspecially since she can confidently say she hates Scott and Owen and have mixed feelings about Pyro at best.

Mixed feelings about Shelby too don’t worry! But they know Shelby is genuinely caring for people around her which is nice. 

“I’m really grateful you’re here Apo.” Speak of the devil, Pyro says in a delighted tone. 

Oh geez Apo needs to acknowledge him now.

“Um, yeah no problem!” Apo had to bite her tongue to avoid saying something unsavory, no use on making more enemies right now the whole town probably hates her now. They really didn’t want the vampires to know they chose to just help herself in the end. They don’t need to know that, they don’t need to know anything! Just let them believe what they want, that’s all. 

“I’m so grateful you chose us instead of them Apo, I was quite worried after not being able to find you for a couple days…” Scott says in his sly, icy voice he always had, Apo holds her tongue to avoid telling him to shut up. 

Instead of acknowledging him Apo turns her head to face Pyro, who is looking at Scott. 

Okay weird. 

Concerning.

That’s a future problem!

“So what now?” Apo asks simply, snapping Pyro’s attention from Scott back to her. “Oh um now we’re building the castle and gathering food—”

“Did you all forget what they said just moments earlier?” Owen intervenes loudly, all attention on him. Apo almost forgot about him because of how uncannily quiet he was being. 

“She is afraid of drinking blood! Let me make it abundantly clear that she will starve to death first before she even gets out of here!” Owen was going to continue on with his statement but Scott raised his hand to order him to be silent. 

“Yes, that is concerning…Apo you’re going to need to eat.” And like clockwork, right after Scott said that Shelby is loosening her grip on the hug to pull something out of her pockets, a vial full of blood. 

Apo holds back her gag. Her hand covers her mouth as she takes a step back.

You know what? Maybe being alone isn’t a bad idea! Everyone would be her enemy but at least they wouldn’t need to drink blood—

“Apo…” Shelby says softly as she holds out the vial. “You need to eat.”

Yeah not shit. Apo is so hungry, the pangs in her stomach are now making it hard for her to think now…lucky her. 

Saints, she just wants to write to Cherri.

She just wants to go home to Cherri. 

They want to slap Martyn in the face for sacrificing her, they want to slap Pyro in the face for turning her! (His slap won’t have as much force though.)

She failed Fernsfield and that is why she is here. 

Saints. They did this to herself. One bad after another and here they are. 

Apo can’t make another mistake, she is going to do everything in her power to get back home now with her life intact, if she can go back to being human great! But not guaranteed at all, hell she knows she would’ve died in town…

Hesitantly Apo takes the vial of blood and uncorks it. The smell hitting her first and making her gag, to the point she almost drops the vial. Pyro gets to their first, catches her and holds her hand with the vile. Shelby is at Apo’s other side hovering around her.

“I’m fine…” Fuck it she just needs to bite the bullet. 

Without any heads up she swings the vial of blood to her like she is taking a swing of a drink and chugs a gulp before putting it down—or more like dropping the empty vial onto the ground. The blood is viscous; thick and sticky—not going down her throat fast enough and some of the blood sticking to her teeth. They want a toothbrush like now.

Everything is spinning. 

Apo covers her mouth to hold back her vomit. Voices are swarming around her, she can’t see, she can’t think. She is just looking down, hunched over, holding back the vomit as she thinks of what she has done. 

Apo drank blood. 

Apo drank blood.

Everything goes dark.   

🗡🗡🗡

This time Apo wakes up in a room full of pillows and blankets. So full with them Apo can say they’re suffocating in it. (Not the worst thing they guess?)

Pushing herself up with whatever strength she has she adjusts her eyes to look around, she’s alone—wait no Scott is right there ah shit. 

“Scott…” Apo says warily. 

“Apo!” Scott says in a cheery-icy voice, putting his book down getting up where he was to come closer to her. Apo scoots back to get away from him, she would’ve gone farther but her back hit the wall—stupid wall. 

“You’re awake! How are you?” 

“Where the fuck am I? Where is Pyro?” Apo frantically looks around, no Pyro in sight, shit. 

“Your old roommate is fine~ he is just going around and emptying the tomes before the humans get to them.” Apo just nods silently to that, where is the exit? 

“I’m going to get you some blood—”

“No! No. I’m fine Scott–” Apo shuts down, standing up on the plush covers gripping onto the wall. Where are her shoes? Saints, where is the exit?! 

You know what? No. They are going to be fine, they just need to walk around and find the exit. The room she is in is dark, filled to the brim with pillows and blankets and other plush things, the only light source being a dim lantern at the top of the room. No door in sight. 

As Apo keeps looking around, Scott comes right up behind her uncomfortably close and runs his hands through her hair before she could refute. 

What game is he playing here?  

“You need to drink Apo.” He says firmly, Apo just glares at him for him to shut up. However, carefully looking at him now (or as well as she can) he looks worried? Kinda? 

“Apo—” Scott grabs her by the shoulders forcing her to face him, they kick him away and tries to book it somewhere. 

It didn’t work. 

“You can’t leave Apo. You can’t see where the door is…just come back here and rest. You need it. Especially after being stuck with them for three days.” Scott says the last line bitterly. 

“Where am I?” Apo chokes out, this place is not a bedroom what-so-ever and she wants to leave before the plushness of this place consumes her (that is actually the least worrying thing that could happen to her but they digress).

“The Nest now come back down—”

“No. I’m leaving, I may be new to this coven but I refuse to be babied.” Something snapped in Scott after he said that, in a horrifying speed reaching Apo, holding her face with his freezing cold hand. 

“I can only be nice to you for so long Apo. I am a lot of things but I refuse to be a bad sire, go back, take a seat, and drink.” Scott says coldly, already dragging Apo back to where she woke up and forcing her to take a seat. Apo just stays silent as Scott goes up to bring her blood…Apo sits hugging her knees, her eyes darting around the room, figuring out where the freaking door is. 

“Pyro and Shelby will be joining you in an hour or two. Since they’re still fledgings I advised them to stay in the nest as well sometimes. Of course all of you fledgings have their own rooms, but the nest is a good place for new vampires to…how do I say this. Learn.”

Apo doesn’t say anything.

“You gave everyone quite a scare there. Passing out like that after drinking blood, how ridiculous.” 

Apo doesn’t say anything, Scott continues talking for the both of them. 

“Drinking from the vial is easier than drinking from a warm body, human or animal. It's messy. This way is cleaner.” Scott simply states as he comes towards Apo and crouches next to her, the vial of blood in hand—Apo doesn’t look at it, just staring at a pillow that suddenly gained her interest. 

“Cow’s blood, it is easier to drink compared to other animals. Shelby gave you pigs blood earlier.” 

Pig’s blood?

Truffle—

Before Apo and dwell on the fact that intentionally left her pet pig back in town Scott uncorks the vial and the smell fills her nostrils again, and she couldn’t hold back her gag this time. Leaning forward with her hand on her chest as she vomits on the plushy blanket in front of her. 

Scott panics. 

Apo's head is spinning again with many thoughts, some are related, some aren’t. Vampire; Okahurst; the Coven; Fernsfield; her outpost; the military; Cherri; going home; she still needs to write a letter; Truffle; pigs blood; the stickiness of blood; her gotten turned; Martyn killed her; left her; made her a sacrifice; Avid tried to kill her; her behavior is making sense even to her; Pyro turned her into a vampire; she hates Owen and Scott; doesn’t know how to feel about Shelby; doesn’t know how to feel about Pyro; she wants to go home; she wants to be human; the Cure; the Doctor; the townsfolk; Avid is just scared; Martyn was just scared and didn’t want to die too; she just want to go home; they all want to go home; Abolish strange behavior; what was in his pocket?; Pyro trying to support her; her bleeding out; the Saints; punished the wicked save the good; Apo is no longer good; Apo is wicked; maybe she always been wicked; maybe this is her punishment; passing out after drinking blood for the first time; her uniform is still ripped and she is still wearing it; her shawl is gone now; Cherri made that shawl; she misses her girlfriend; she wants to write a letter to her girlfriend; she joined the military so it can pay for her university and now look where that got her; Scott is in the room with her right now; she threw up after the smell of blood; after thinking about drinking it again; fuck; Scott took the blanket and threw it out; Apo hates it here; she joined the coven; she wants to go home; she wants to go home; she wants to go home; Scott came back and toss a blanket on top of Apo. 

What.

Scott makes a sound of pure contemplation before talking again, “Okay we’re going to do this again without you throwing up this time.” Scott says exasperatingly as she runs his fingers through his hair to relieve the tension. 

Oh wow, he’s stressed? Apo shouldn’t be surprised but this is strange to witness, they only ever seen Scott be smug. 

“We’re going to do this again. But I’m going to need you to work with me.” 

Apo doesn’t have the energy or authority to fight right now so she just silently nods, 

“Plug your nose and close your eyes, I will pour the blood into your mouth and then everything will be okay!” Nothing is going to be okay but what choice does she have? None. She is just going to be a good soldier and follow orders. 

Apo does what he said and feels the vial’s blood being poured into her mouth and down into her throat. She wants to throw it all up again.

And the worst part? They felt so much better. 

The achiness in her limbs are fadinging, the dizziness is slowly down, and feel so much more alive. But she isn’t. Not anymore. Not ever since they made it so her heart never beats again. 

The vial is empty now and Apo sinks back, into the hard wall and just stares. Not at anything particular, she isn’t looking at Scott or the empty blood vial, she is just staring. Wondering. Imagining what her life could’ve been like if the series of unfortunate events didn’t happen to her, wondering what her life could’ve been like if she never joined the military. Reality is however, she needs to drink blood to survive now. 

“Saints, am I the wicked one?” Apo whispers to herself as she just, blankly stares at the wall. She drank blood twice now, twice.

Unbeknownst to her, Scott is grabbing another blanket to wrap her in. A heavy weighted one (where did that even come from?). Carefully, he makes Apo lay down on her side before putting the weighted blanket on her. 

“I hate you all so much.” Apo says sleepily. 

“Yeah we know Apo…it’s mutual with me at least. Hate you too.” Scott says in a hum, running his hand through her hair. Apo forces herself to fall asleep, lying to herself that she is so much more tired than she actually is.

If she sleeps she will have a dream, a nice dream! Dreaming of Cherri…

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

The world is quiet. 

Everything goes dark. 

🗡🗡🗡

It’s been a couple days since her last ‘nap’ per say, Apo is now trying to familiarize the layout of the crypt and castle before she goes out again. No use getting lost in her new ‘home’. 

Of course they aren’t allowed to do it alone, observing that the Coven doesn’t trust her enough for that—currently, Pyro is her guide. Good news for them, she doesn’t exactly hate Pyro–it’s more complicated than that.

“This is the most unsymmetrical archway I have ever seen” 

“Saints, you're brutal when it comes to critiquing architecture.” Pyro comments as he continues leading them through the still building castle. Apo is still rambling. 

“Of course I am, what is that? It’s like—geez what are words—ITS LIKE SOMEONE CRAVED IT BLINDFOLDED! Why is the pattern and shape like that? Why?” Apo asks point blank. She has been staying with the Coven for almost a week now and the first thing that they force her to do the moment she woke up again is get a new outfit since her old uniform is wrecked. 

Now Apo is wearing a burgundy dress that has an equestrian skirt, wrapped with a jeweled belt, topped off with a black military uniform jacket hanging off her shoulder with red jeweled buttons sewn in, black gloves, white breeches, knee high boots and her wine-red hair tied his a high ponytail (don’t ask her how this outfit came about–she just picked the jacket, Shelby did everything else). Apo just guessed that since she joined them she needs to start dressing like them too—it’s actually not too bad of an outfit. 

Currently, Apo is absolutely insulted on how the architecture is coming out. 

“So~ you’re insinuating that Owen carved the archway blindfolded?” 

“I DID NOT?!” Speak of the devil, Owen himself. 

“It looks so bad Owen, why is it the main archway?” Apo massages her temples, “Why—“

“You have been here for almost a week and you choose to insult me?” Owen says in an offended matter, “I’ll make it abundantly clear that I am much older than you Apo by two-hundred years so you better–” 

Apo interrupts, “And those two-hundred years you couldn’t learn how to do good looking architecture that doesn’t look like shit?” She retorts which just makes Owen even more angry. Instead of opening his mouth to talk to Apo he looks at Pyro, “Pyro control your fledging! She is so infuriating!” 

Apo steps between Pyro and Owen. Oh hell no Owen isn’t going to drag Pyro into anything because he can’t argue with her, this is between them. However Pyro answers Owen first before Apo could say anything, putting his hand on her shoulder and is now standing next to her, “No Owen I agree with my roommate she has much better taste than you.” He said in a smug tone as he leaned more into Apo.

Apo smiled to do that, they like having their roommate back—the one silver lining they like in this whole shitty situation they found themselves in. She actually got offered to have her own room but to throw Scott off (and because she misses him) she asked if it was possible to share a room with Pyro. Pyro didn’t have any issues with it and was frankly really excited about being roommates again! Scott could honestly care less and said as long as Pyro was fine with it then they can share a room.  

Scott isn’t sly though, Apo heard him when he said ‘this is an unexpected play on his plan’ which she smiled at—good, keep him guessing. 

“Honestly if you two cherish each other that much just become a couple. 

“But I’m gay.” Both Pyro and Apo say point blank. 

After they said that Apo and Pyro looked at each other with slightly wide eyes and just laughed, leaning onto each other even more. Yeah, Apo thinks, it’s nice having my roommate back.

Owen just looks at them with a look of defeat and just walks away, sighing very loudly as he whispers to himself how he is surrounded with lunatics.

“What ruffled his feathers?” An icy voice says, entering the room unwelcomed. Scott.

The warmth and laughter comes to an abrupt stop as the roommates turn to face him, Apo with a face of loathing while Pyro tries to make himself look presentable, no longer leaning on Apo now. 

Apo now has a light grasp on Pyro’s coat, not wanting him to leave.  

“Ah sire! I’ve been showing Apo around the castle and we had some banter with Owen, nothing bad we just had some fun!” Pyro reports to Scott, his hands in his pockets, Apo still grasping his coat a bit harder now as she stands behind her roommate. 

Apo doesn’t like what effect Scott has on Pyro. She hates it. Scott changes Pyro and he wants it to stop. 

“I see! That being said, Pyro? Can you follow me? I need your help with something.” That doesn’t sound good, Apo should come too so Pyro isn’t alone. 

“Of course Sire! Just give me a minute…” Pyro turns around to face Apo with a smile, Apo is forced to let go of his coat. 

“You want me to come with?” Apo asks first, no hurt in asking. She doesn’t want Pyro to be alone with him. 

“Oh! Um…” Apo follows Pyro’s eyes to his Sire, Scott, and he just simply shakes his head. Such a little movement yet it enchants Pyro to his core and that scares her. “He says no Apo.” 

Apo lets out a defeated sigh, darn it, they kinda hope that they don't split up but maybe she could—Scott is giving them an icy glare that sends shivers down her spine—nope! Nevermind! Self preservation here! Apo will just need to do damage control once Pyro comes back because she doesn’t Scott one bit, not at all.

She hates him. 

And just like that Pyro is following Scott to who knows where! Pyro said a quick goodbye to her and left. Now she is standing in the middle of a hallway that has a bad archway at the entrance. 

What should she do? 

You know what? She’ll be useful, she’s fixing that poor excuse of an archway. 

Moving now, she heads to the storage room in the castle. While doing that her thoughts swarm in her mind. 

Apo feels so stupid for actually feeling calm at that moment. Pyro when he wasn’t with Scott was so pleasant that she fell back to their old routine of being roommates—before the vampire bullshit. 

Apo is still here. A vampire now who is freaking afraid of blood—every time she needs to drink it she needs to swing the vial and swallow as quickly as she can before she can throw it all up—who was sent to her death by Martyn. 

Sometimes, they’re referred to as a soldier by Scott and she hates it. He knows she hates it so he does it on purpose because he hates her too.

Pyro, as much as she is glad he’s here, he is both obsessed and terrified of Scott and that scares her. They like it when Pyro is like, Pyro…but when he is not it makes her wish she never took his hand sometimes. 

Apo doesn’t know how to feel about Owen, she hates him? She doesn’t hate him? They aren't quite sure, but she knows he hates (maybe) her and she does not care, honestly he is the least of her problems. 

Shelby is an interesting case. One, if not, the least threatening person here in the Coven. Bubbly, sweet, loves writing fanfiction (the AO3 curse got her) and will defend Scott with her life. That is so unsettling to Apo, on how Shelby will put Scott on a high pedestal thinking he could do no wrong and when she does she excuses it and uses the saying that ‘he is a changed man’ over and over again. It’s so repetitive and it scares her.

The only person who doesn’t put Scott on a pedestal for whatever reason is her and Owen. Still, Apo refuses to make him an ally, but they can be friendly. 

Yes. Friendly. 

That is how she is surviving right now. Being nice, friendly, and useful (plus the jabs at Owen, all for good fun of course). 

Apo is determined to get home though. This “family” is just an illusion, bound to break sooner or later. And she has no intentions of staying around when that happens. If she can, she'll grab Pyro out of this trainwreck too and they’ll go home…

Her home. Cherri. She sounds so far away now compared to when she first came to Oakhurst.

I guess that’s the sacrifice price to pay for the man that sold her to the devil.