as written by Knosis and Emperor Jester
Time had passed and Noemi's physical wounds seemed to have nearly healed. The left arm was still in a sling, the tendons in the arm still not healed back completely. The right arm had healed back completely.
There were always scars that wouldn't heal, and it was evident on the woman's dark rimmed eyes. Most in the situation she had been in would have cower behind their fear, wondering when the monster would hop back out and end them. Or some would drink themselves to the bottom of a bottle. Noemi had done neither.
The woman shuffled the bags she had carried up stairs so that she could search for the keys for the door. She cursed when she dropped them, gave up and put the bags down when she picked up her keys and opened the door to the apartment. Inside, what use to be a simple and very neat apartment was covered with newspaper clippings, books, bills, and random bits of odds and ends. It was a rather simple apartment, but much more spacious than some in the lower ends of town. It was actually a townhouse-type apartment: Two floors, with her office and bedroom upstairs with the bathroom, her living room kitchen and wash room down below.
Her couch was completely covered with a random assortment of books on vampires. Between books of history and lore, to 'known' ways of killing one, she had gone out of her way to search for answers for the next time she would face her attacker.
She tossed the bag on the couch with a sigh, turning to grab a remote to turn her music on. Loud grunge rock started playing from the speakers. Tenderly, she moved her arm around and took off her shirt and tossed it into a basket down the hall where the washer and drier was.
____
There was a noise downstairs and then his ears were assaulted by passive-aggressive guitar and depressing lyrics. With a tsk, Nox would stop his cleaning. The girl had simply let her quarters become a mess since her accident. It really brought a tear to his black heart. He was in her bedroom, folding her clothes, organizing them between lights and darks, then clean and unclean. Such a becoming girl didn't deserve such low down, common clothes. She should be dressed in the very best leathers, fabrics, linens, you name it. Perhaps he'd buy her a nice silver fox coat.
Closing her closet door, Nox would then go about fixing her bed, tucking the sheets, fluffing and decreasing the pillows so they were both comfortable yet firm. He even organized all of her drawers and cabinets while she was gone. He'd decided to start with the upstairs first, because, as he'd guessed when he entered the apartment through the now broken office window, these would be the most challenging.
Speaking of the office, it was spotless. He'd even picked up the mess of shards he'd made by (illegally) entering her home. Everything was meticulously organized and placed together by theme, then by alphabetical order. Nox had even vacuumed. For now though, he sat down at the foot of her bed, the door to the room closed.
And he waited. Dressed exactly how he was the last time she'd seen him.
____
The familiar thunk of the closet door being shut upstairs pulled her to pause. Why was the door upstairs shutting by itself? Her brows furrowed, and through abnormally sluggish thoughts, the answer came to her. She grabbed her gun from the counter and made her way towards the stairs.
She suddenly was thankful that the music was rather loud and hoped that whoever or whatever the intruder was, it would mask her moving upstairs.
Once there, though, she began to notice little things were different. Her office door was partially open, and a slight breeze was blowing the curtains. She turned to face the bedroom door, taking a deep breath as she reached for the knob with her bad arm, the right arm holding the gun read to aim.
She swung the door open, gun pointed towards the intruder as soon as she laid eyes on him. It took a moment to register who it was and she steeled herself even more. She felt the old anger rise up again, but she kept irrationally calm.
"I was expecting you." She said.
____
With a smile, he stood up to greet her...until he saw her gun. That wasn't a very nice way to greet your father, now was it. "Good! I'm glad I made the desired impression. You've been looking up a lot about my kind I see." There was no fear in his voice or his movements, especially considering her gun. It posed not threat to him, especially when he was this close to her. Being near her gave him such a rush of dark energy.
Something about her scent drove him to such an insane high. Perhaps that was being amplified by all the drugs and alcohol in his system. He'd taken to picking girls up from nearby raves in the city. Using them. Breaking them. Destroying their minds and leaving them in an alley, bleeding out while their memories are slowly eaten by insidious fear and paranoia. It was a hobby.
Everyone had to have a hobby.
"Now can we put that down and have a nice talk? Its been awhile. What've you been up to? How've you been? How are the ribs I broke? Or the arms?"
____
The woman's teeth clenched. She knew now that the gun was no use. It would simply tickle a vampire really, and there were some vampires where shooting them did nothing at all. She suspected this one was one of them. But the way he spoke to her was like they were long lost family.
"Oh you know, the usual. Trying to keep up with the bills since I'm on unpaid medical leave. Going to the doctors to see if my left arm will ever heal proper. Researching and being antisocial." Her tone pushing the boundary of angry sass and sarcastic conversation. All the while, she had lowered her gun and was leaning on the door frame with her bare shoulder. "Right arm's healed, though, and the ribs."
____
"See? Not everything is as bad as you make it seem. Besides. I've used some of my families safe house funds to fix your little debt problem." Earlier tonight, actually. Its amazing what a banker will do to save his family. Not that it helped. They were all flesh and sinew confetti at the border of the forest, being fed to the wolves. Scraps go to dogs, after all.
"I also ordered you some new attire. I remembered your measurements after last time we spoke. Think of it as my way of saying sorry, but also saying welcome."
He had begun to pace as he spoke, but now stopped, looking her dead in the eyes. There was a smile, the smile that he'd worn the entire time he'd tortured her. Like some kind of sick love or fascination.
____
The woman watched him pace, like a cat getting ready to pounce. His words made little sense to her. Besides the murder of someone's family, he had paid off her debts? Gotten her clothes? Apologizing?
"Welcome..?" She asked the question out loud, as if clarifying that's what he had meant. The prospect of the meaning of that simple word seemed to light her stomach on fire, and she bit her lip softly to keep from shouting her next word. It was obvious, when she spoke, she didn't mean the trivial things of why he was being nice to her.
"Why?"
____
"You fascinate me. You really do, miss." He'd call her by her name, but frankly, Nox wasn't sure if he couldn't remember it (unlikely) or if the name had bored him. He might rename her, in the end. Maybe in memory of his little sister. What would the church do if rumor of not only Nox surviving the Caer purge, but his sister Avacyn had as well.
It was a tempting thought, but it also prevented Nox from claiming he was the last of the Old Caer. That made him feel special, and he loved that feeling, so so so very much. "And you'll never be able to get the revenge you crave while you're mortal. By the time you can take me on in a purely mental battlefield, you won't be able to physically attempt to end my life. Clinging to life, afraid to turn every corner because I could be there, only to die full of fear, alone and paranoid? That won't be a problem, if you accept my proposal."
The way he spoke made it perfectly clear that there wasn't really a choice. Her life ended here tonight, with or without her consent. She would either become a mindless spawn, a wild wolf, a dog under his command, or to become his kin. To achieve power, wealth, respect, fear, adoration, to climb on top of every other piece of filth this world offered them. To be the head of the pack. The pinnacle of the food chain. An apex predator instead of cattle.
"If you have any questions, do make it quick. I am rather famished."
____
The lump in her throat did not go away after she swallowed. Again, he spoke somewhat the truth. From what she had read, people had been trained since babes to be able to take down a vampire, years of dedication to the practice, and even then they had to work as a group.
Being bitten had its draw backs too, she learned. Many didn't survive, either due to the vampire in question becoming blood crazed in the process and killing its intended fledgling or simply not surviving the undead process. There were too many ifs and buts for Noemi's liking in the process, but if it did succeed, she would become a vampire herself. Her own words came back to her about choosing what to do with the cards that had been given to her.
"Can you promise me something?" She asked, coming in terms with what was to come. She knew she probably couldn't rely on his word, but she didn't have a choice in the matter. She had to ask, so she could prepare herself or not depending on his answer.
____
"Well, that all depends on what the promise is." It was good to see her not fighting this decision of his. Nox knew he'd be awfully cross if she tried to resist this most honorable and enviable gift. However, a small part of him wished she would've tried to resist it anyway. Thats what had made him notice her to begin with. She'd stood against the black tide of undeath that was a Caer and had fought until she was broken, physically. And that had not even broken her mentally.
She was so resilient to the change he wished to impose on her unless she had no choice. She fought everything and anything she had to do to survive. It made the giant almost giddy with anticipation. Soon, he'd have family again. And he would be the Patriarch, the Prime, the All-Father of the Caer. The thirdboy would rise to the family head, and begin the empire anew. And it all started tonight.
"Ask away. I may be able to oblige."
____
The woman held her hands up, showing she meant no harm as she walked over to her chest of drawers and put the gun down. She turned to go into her closet and to the safe there. She opened it up within a minute and pulled out a couple of items, non-descript.
While she was pulling them out, she would stuff a couple of them into her sling. Stuff she wanted to hand to him obviously, but she hoped he wouldn't notice the blade she slipped in there with a couple of photos.
"I want you to promise me you won't harm my human parents. But that you'll also tell them, some how, that I'm no longer part of the living. I won't be able to face them after today." She explained. "There are a few things I want you to send to them as well."
____
A heavy, deeply annoyed sigh. "Fine. FINE. I won't harm a hair on their heads or a drop of blood in their veins, if that convinces you to hurry this up. And I'll take the stuff over there when I tell them." He was busy examining himself in a mirror, not that he could see his person, but at least he could see his attire. The longer he stared into the reflective glass, the more frost seem to appear around its edges, and finally, it would creak and crack in protest before shattering.
"Oops. You didn't want to take that with you, now did you?" A honest question, but there was a playful naughtiness there, like a school boy pretending his prank was an accident.
____
She jumped, startled at the sound of the shattering glass and sighed. "No. I suppose I'll have no need for it." She said putting the pictures and arrangement of family heirlooms on the bed. All except the knife, she kept hidden under her arm.
"Lets get this over with, vampire." She said. She had never gotten his name, nor did she know his significance.
____
"So cold towards your new father. In the last few moments of your mortal life, you may address me as just that, vampire. Nosferatu, as my family preferred. But once you are brought under my wing, every title you give me will be Master, Father, Patron, or Nox, if my mood is informal enough for you address me by my proper name." He'd slowly remove his jacket, like he had when he'd broken her against her own cruiser, laying it out on the bed.
Turn his back to her for a single moment.
____
She watched him, the memories from the night they had first met surging forward to the front of her mind. Her heart was pounding a smooth rhythm. Ironic, this time she was sure she was going to die, and she was calmer than she had been before. Was it the months she had to come to terms with it?
"Very well. Master." She glared defiantly at him, letting him know she wasn't pleased with this with just her look.
____
"Luckily, you have plenty of clean clothes here, but I promise I won't make too much of a mess." A casual blink and he'd be in front of her, his body so cold it might as well have radiated winter itself, almost as if his body had been in a freezer for the months since they'd last seen each other. His pupils retracted into paper thin slits and his jaw unhinged, twice, with a sickly, organic popping sound.
As this happened, his mouth seemed to almost swell to triple its size, and his teeth, once so perfect and white became long, serrated knives, stained a dull reddish brown. His breath wreaked of decay, and he seemed to give off an aura of wrongness, like the world was trying to reject his very existence. This was the true form of a Caer, what the city had nearly torn itself apart to get rid of. This was a demon of blood and cold made flesh, lacking the spark of life and the conscious of its lost humanity.
Nox's voice didn't seem to come from his body anymore, instead infiltrating Noemi's mind like a cruel, black dagger. "Do not resist, child. Soon eternity will be yours." And this his fangs would snap down, piercing her flesh like a hot knife through half-melted butter, his distended jaw taking in most of her neck, as well as a good portion of her injured shoulder as well. And he'd drink. Deeply. Or so was his plan.
____
A soft cry escaped her lips as he bit into her neck, her eyes widening. She was shivering from the cold he had brought with him. Her good arm had instinctively moved up to block him, was now pinned gently against herself and him. With one last lucid thought, she reached into her sling to pull the blade from it swiftly and aimed to bring it down into the side of his neck.
____
The blade would find home, ripping into Nox's unprotected neck. His own black blood would seep out of his skin, freezing before it could drip to the floor, small -tinks- like the sound of glass resounded from her floor, becoming tiny obsidian orbs of his own corrupted essence. At first, Nox didn't seem to notice her knife work, but soon he reared back from Noemi, like a struck snake, letting her either slump to the ground or stand on her own merits, tearing the piece of metal from his neck.
Once again, that insidious invasion of her mind, sliding his thoughts into hers with an almost gentle malice. "You try, try, try until the end, and this is why you are welcomed into my family. You survive, even if it kills you." As his jaw begin to heal itself, all of his feeding teeth would fall out, only to be quickly replaced, almost like a sharks, only these teeth were his 'normal' ones, the ones he used as a guise. "You will be a power to rival my own, to equal it, to perhaps surpass it, given enough time." It was done. She was infected. Already, he could hear her heart stopping. He could see her eyes turning the same shade of blue that belonged to him and his ilk; clear, perfect ice, as blue as the sky and as cold as a blizzard. If she could survive the pain, then for the first time in half a century, Nox would have family.
____
Noemi had tried to continue to stand after he had let her go. Her knees shook at the effort, though, and soon she felt herself crumble to the floor. Her breathing was rapid, and it felt like a fire had been lit into her veins. Every uneven beat of her heart let her know that she was unfortunately still alive, as it pushed the poison further into her body and spreading the vile infection through her. Pain ate at her, and she found herself retreating to her thoughts, erratic as they were.
She laid on the floor, staring in blind pain towards the man's feet. Thump thump. Why did fate lead her to this man? Thump. Why was this happening to her, of all people? What had she done wrong? Thump thump thump. She writhed on the floor, turning her eyes up to Nox as they turned from the deep blue to the icey blue to match his own. She hated him. She wanted to kill him, more than anything else. Rage and anger fueled through her as her heart seemed resilient against the inevitable.
It seemed an eternity for Noemi, and the pain only increased. She found that her thoughts were no longer kept her shielded from giving into the pain and she cried out as waves hit her. Thump. Thump. Thump. The beating echoed in her ears, bringing more chaos and pain. And then, silence. She panted heavily, her eyes fluttering closed as she returned to that semi-state of half consciousness he had left her during their first encounter.
____
As her heart slowly withered, Nox only seemed to grow in stature. He too, realized it, and was caught off guard, even gasping in spite of himself. The ceiling was much closer now, and even his normal body, already massive and towering, paled in comparison to this...boosted stature. Was this why he remembered Father as being so...overshadowing? When that man walked into the room, everything grew smaller. Nox could only barely stifle his laughter before it was no use, erupting from him in mountainously huge torrents of maniacal glee.
He'd done it. This had been the first step to rebuilding his family's kingdom. He'd become a sire, and though it saddened him, he'd become the Prime. The curse reacting this way to him, gifting him further was the only evidence he needed that his old family was gone. He'd been the last, and had received the Gift of Fatherhood. Oh. He was so, so very proud of himself, so much so that he'd completely forgotten to enjoy the girl's torment, so much so that he could only focus on mentally jacking off his ego.
Once he'd calmed down however, he'd move downstairs and turn off her stereo, and begin to clean the lower levels too. Maybe, if she had any, he'd pour them both a class of wine to celebrate.
Unfortunately, he'd forgotten about his new state of being, and bumped his head on her stairwell as he retreated to the lower levels, glad that no one saw that.
____
A time had passed and she found herself waking from the fog that had enshrouded her being since the pain faded. Well, mostly. Peeking through one eye, even the low lights in her room seemed agonizing. The sounds of creaking and groaning in the apartment were as if they had been amplified ten fold. The scent of cleaning materials and dried blood made her stomach turn. She groaned and slowly made her way to where she was on her side.
Her mind was racing, yet no thought was clear on what was going through her mind. If this was how it was to be a vampire, it was a wonder why all of them weren't insane.
Her throat was parched, as if she hadn't had a drop to drink in an age. The need to quench it was an all consuming force that ultimately got her to start crawling towards the bathroom. She pulled herself along, every movement shaky and uncertain until she made it to the bathtub. She went to turn the knob and it broke in her grasp.
She groaned pitifully and tossed the broken knob out the room, where it bounced down the stairs.
____
Nox's ears twitched at the high pitched -clink- of a metal knickknack hitting the stairs over and over again. Maybe she'd already woken up. That'd be a nice change of pace, really. He'd have company sooner than expected, which could be nice. The apartment was spotless now, with two glasses of a fine red wine sitting alone on the table he sat at, as well as a simple crystal flask.
It was a clear flask, relatively simple in design, filled with some kind of viscous, crimson liquid.
All Nox did was unscrew the top of the container. Already, the scent was driving him wild, his pupils narrowing to fine, thin slits. It was hers however. The first meal had to be provided by the Sire, and after that, she'd be on her own for the most part, unless she came with him to the 'still-in-progress' Caer manor. For the most part, he fully intended on turning this space into his living quarters until the mansion was, mostly, complete.
____
Noemi sat in the bathroom, wishing for the silence that would never come. To say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement. She could hear everything, she thought. The fly buzzing around outside, the snoring of the neighbors next door, the cat purring several apartments away, as well as the constant sounds of the city she had toned out since she was a little girl, now brought new life and meaning to the words 'noisy'.
Touching things was almost that bad as well. Her clothes felt horribly itchy now, as earlier it had been her normal every day clothes. The glare had died down some, but everything she saw was in fine detail. She swore she could nearly count the threads in the carpet.
She slowly adjusted, except for the noise. She realized she had been using the arm that had been healing still. She twisted it and tested out its range of motion, and nothing seemed to bother her. It was about this time, a new scent filled her lungs. The burning sensation in her throat drove her again and she made her way downstairs, a somewhat dazed expression upon her face.
Her eyes glanced to the crystal flask for a moment but it was the creature that she had thought would be ages gone by now that gained her attention. Anger filled her her eyes. The thought flashed in her mind, and with inhuman speed, she crossed the room, intending to grab the man's neck.
____
He had heard her coming down the stairs. Maybe she'd be thankful of his impromptu cleaning, or the fact that he'd left her unmolested during her slumber. However, he'd guessed she'd make her first move towards the flask, ignoring everything else. He could hardly blame her. The turning left your stomach at a flat, empty zero, so when you woke up, it was with a fierce hunger. However, he'd hadn't expected her attack. However...
The Caer would make no move to stop her, in fact, he'd welcome her hands to this throat, a soft smile on his face. Everything else should feel cold to her, as dead as Noemi was. However, as soon as the new vampire made contact with her master's flesh, everything would go warm. A flood of rich sensation, everything hot, passionate, or even just mildly soothing would assault her at a whisper's touch.
"Now now now. Lets not be too hasty. You'll have plenty of time to try and kill me later girl." He'd touch the flask, still making no attempt to remove her fingers from his neck. "I'm sure you're very hungry..."
____
As soon as her hands wrapped around his throat, she faltered. The sensations clearly distracted the fledgling vampire as her mind boggled over what could cause this change. But it was the distraction that ebbed her anger enough for her senses to latch on to the intoxicating smell again. She was going back into the dreamy state of being lured when he spoke and brought her back again.
Her grip tightened again, but he could tell the hunger was winning over now. Her limbs were shaking, her eyes dilated. Her will was breaking. But even as she did in life, she fought even if it would do no good in the end.
"I. Hate. You." She bit the words, as hoarse as they were with her dry throat. She let go of his throat and grabbed for the flask desperately. Unless he stopped her, she would up-end the flask and drink what was within.
____
"I know you do. Hate is a great tool, fledgling. You'll learn to use it in time, as well as the other gifts I've given you." He watched her drink, noting to himself that it indeed made him feel joyous. She wasn't noble, and she wasn't breeding stock, but this was the first new Caer in over fifty years. It brought a warm feeling to his black, dead heart.
"Enjoy it. There will be plenty in the eternity to come, I promise you that." It was after all, real blood. From that same accountant he'd paid a visit to earlier about the girl's bills. Not that she'd have to worry about that much longer. "So, aside from ripping my head from my neck, what else do you feel like doing? Do you have any questions or desires for the night?" He'd look outside from his seat, licking his lips.
"There are plenty of cattle we could eat. Or mutts to put down. Maybe cause a little trouble, hmm? Do you feel like destroying something? Anything?"
____
She physically shivered as she drank the liquid within the flask. Knowing what it was didn't slow her down any. She had pretty much written it off as a necessary evil. She finished it off and felt a need for more. A need that would always be there.
She glanced up at Nox. It was because of him that her life had been changed. Anger welled up again, even as he spoke. But as he asked her, only one desire came to mind.
"I want to get away from this infernal noise.." She muttered, her hands reaching up for her ears. "Please make it stop.."
____
"Aaaaaah. I was hoping we could stay here, but I suppose I can show you your new home tonight after all. Its a bit of a walk, but you'll find you don't get tired as easily as before." Nox would only then stand, moving her out of his way gently as he could, moving upstairs to get his coat.
"Pack whatever you wish to bring. Or don't. It hardly makes a difference. You'll be receiving an entirely new wardrobe anyway, once I get around to making a butler. Fitted clothes hang so much better off the skin, and you'll look much prettier to boot, daughter." Nox would chuckle and shake his head, moving upstairs with grace.
____
She scowled at the thought of being dressed like a doll. 'Give it time.' The thought surfaced to the raging stream of thoughts in her mind. Glancing around the room, she saw what had been her life. Pictures of her family, her friends. Memories of her accomplishments of her short life. It was odd to think of it in that matter, that she was still standing here but technically no longer living. This place belonged to a living person. Those things belonged to a woman who decided to become an officer of the law, to help try to make this place a great place to live again. A woman who had barely begun to live on her own before the nightmare began.
No, nothing in this place belonged to her now. They belonged to someone who could use them. Her family, perhaps, for memories. Co-workers who would continue the job in her stead. The world would move on. And so would she.
"I've nothing I want." She stated. "Remember your promise, though." She stated, shoving her hands into her pockets to keep herself from ripping her ears off.
____
"I will remember it. None of the people you specified will be touched, nor done harm by my person. I swear on it, on the memory of my long departed kin." He'd bow, not intending to be mocking in any fashion. "And if thats the case, then we should leave soon. You'll find the sunlight doesn't destroy you outright, us Caer do not fear the sun, but it is painful, and will slow down your healing." He called back down to her. Nox was silent for a moment.
"Your senses will eventually adjust. You'll be able to tune out the noise. Filter it down to a single mouse in an apartment building from blocks away. You'll be able to clear those blocks in seconds. Most doors won't be able to stop you either. I've given you a lot of gifts, my child. You'll use them for your family in time."
Looking out the window, he'd slowly open it, a gust fanning his fine, silken hair out like an exquisite fan. "I think its time you met them, your brothers and sisters."
____
Noemi slowly made her way upstairs as he was speaking to her. The groan of the window as it gave away to being lifted made her wince. Once she was back into her bedroom, she stood distant from him. "Family? There are more out there then? Like you?" She asked, her fingers clenching.
More monsters creating more nightmares for other innocent people, she had meant. So she couldn't just stop with him, then.
____
The Caer would look back at her with a smile, and for that moment, seeming the size of a titan, as if the enclosed space couldn't contain him much longer. This was only for a moment though. Silently moving his lips, he'd mouth something to her without ever putting any sound to the letters before laughing, leaping into the night sky, signalling for her to follow.
The words he had silently spoken were thus; "There are no others like me."
____
Noemi narrowed her eyes at the man had once stood. She had understood what he said, but whether or not he meant it literally or figuratively would always be the question she guessed.
She hesitated though, to follow him. She stood stock still where he had left her, the conflict evident. She knew that following him out into the night would mean nothing would be the same again. Well, everything had already changed for her, nothing would be the same again either way. But staying here, she knew she would eventually become a danger to all the people around her.
Even though he was giving her a choice, he had her chained. She couldn't break free from him now. "I hate you." She whispered. She walked to the window and looked out for him, curious as to if she could really jump out of a two story window without harming herself now.
Time had passed and Noemi's physical wounds seemed to have nearly healed. The left arm was still in a sling, the tendons in the arm still not healed back completely. The right arm had healed back completely.
There were always scars that wouldn't heal, and it was evident on the woman's dark rimmed eyes. Most in the situation she had been in would have cower behind their fear, wondering when the monster would hop back out and end them. Or some would drink themselves to the bottom of a bottle. Noemi had done neither.
The woman shuffled the bags she had carried up stairs so that she could search for the keys for the door. She cursed when she dropped them, gave up and put the bags down when she picked up her keys and opened the door to the apartment. Inside, what use to be a simple and very neat apartment was covered with newspaper clippings, books, bills, and random bits of odds and ends. It was a rather simple apartment, but much more spacious than some in the lower ends of town. It was actually a townhouse-type apartment: Two floors, with her office and bedroom upstairs with the bathroom, her living room kitchen and wash room down below.
Her couch was completely covered with a random assortment of books on vampires. Between books of history and lore, to 'known' ways of killing one, she had gone out of her way to search for answers for the next time she would face her attacker.
She tossed the bag on the couch with a sigh, turning to grab a remote to turn her music on. Loud grunge rock started playing from the speakers. Tenderly, she moved her arm around and took off her shirt and tossed it into a basket down the hall where the washer and drier was.
____
There was a noise downstairs and then his ears were assaulted by passive-aggressive guitar and depressing lyrics. With a tsk, Nox would stop his cleaning. The girl had simply let her quarters become a mess since her accident. It really brought a tear to his black heart. He was in her bedroom, folding her clothes, organizing them between lights and darks, then clean and unclean. Such a becoming girl didn't deserve such low down, common clothes. She should be dressed in the very best leathers, fabrics, linens, you name it. Perhaps he'd buy her a nice silver fox coat.
Closing her closet door, Nox would then go about fixing her bed, tucking the sheets, fluffing and decreasing the pillows so they were both comfortable yet firm. He even organized all of her drawers and cabinets while she was gone. He'd decided to start with the upstairs first, because, as he'd guessed when he entered the apartment through the now broken office window, these would be the most challenging.
Speaking of the office, it was spotless. He'd even picked up the mess of shards he'd made by (illegally) entering her home. Everything was meticulously organized and placed together by theme, then by alphabetical order. Nox had even vacuumed. For now though, he sat down at the foot of her bed, the door to the room closed.
And he waited. Dressed exactly how he was the last time she'd seen him.
____
The familiar thunk of the closet door being shut upstairs pulled her to pause. Why was the door upstairs shutting by itself? Her brows furrowed, and through abnormally sluggish thoughts, the answer came to her. She grabbed her gun from the counter and made her way towards the stairs.
She suddenly was thankful that the music was rather loud and hoped that whoever or whatever the intruder was, it would mask her moving upstairs.
Once there, though, she began to notice little things were different. Her office door was partially open, and a slight breeze was blowing the curtains. She turned to face the bedroom door, taking a deep breath as she reached for the knob with her bad arm, the right arm holding the gun read to aim.
She swung the door open, gun pointed towards the intruder as soon as she laid eyes on him. It took a moment to register who it was and she steeled herself even more. She felt the old anger rise up again, but she kept irrationally calm.
"I was expecting you." She said.
____
With a smile, he stood up to greet her...until he saw her gun. That wasn't a very nice way to greet your father, now was it. "Good! I'm glad I made the desired impression. You've been looking up a lot about my kind I see." There was no fear in his voice or his movements, especially considering her gun. It posed not threat to him, especially when he was this close to her. Being near her gave him such a rush of dark energy.
Something about her scent drove him to such an insane high. Perhaps that was being amplified by all the drugs and alcohol in his system. He'd taken to picking girls up from nearby raves in the city. Using them. Breaking them. Destroying their minds and leaving them in an alley, bleeding out while their memories are slowly eaten by insidious fear and paranoia. It was a hobby.
Everyone had to have a hobby.
"Now can we put that down and have a nice talk? Its been awhile. What've you been up to? How've you been? How are the ribs I broke? Or the arms?"
____
The woman's teeth clenched. She knew now that the gun was no use. It would simply tickle a vampire really, and there were some vampires where shooting them did nothing at all. She suspected this one was one of them. But the way he spoke to her was like they were long lost family.
"Oh you know, the usual. Trying to keep up with the bills since I'm on unpaid medical leave. Going to the doctors to see if my left arm will ever heal proper. Researching and being antisocial." Her tone pushing the boundary of angry sass and sarcastic conversation. All the while, she had lowered her gun and was leaning on the door frame with her bare shoulder. "Right arm's healed, though, and the ribs."
____
"See? Not everything is as bad as you make it seem. Besides. I've used some of my families safe house funds to fix your little debt problem." Earlier tonight, actually. Its amazing what a banker will do to save his family. Not that it helped. They were all flesh and sinew confetti at the border of the forest, being fed to the wolves. Scraps go to dogs, after all.
"I also ordered you some new attire. I remembered your measurements after last time we spoke. Think of it as my way of saying sorry, but also saying welcome."
He had begun to pace as he spoke, but now stopped, looking her dead in the eyes. There was a smile, the smile that he'd worn the entire time he'd tortured her. Like some kind of sick love or fascination.
____
The woman watched him pace, like a cat getting ready to pounce. His words made little sense to her. Besides the murder of someone's family, he had paid off her debts? Gotten her clothes? Apologizing?
"Welcome..?" She asked the question out loud, as if clarifying that's what he had meant. The prospect of the meaning of that simple word seemed to light her stomach on fire, and she bit her lip softly to keep from shouting her next word. It was obvious, when she spoke, she didn't mean the trivial things of why he was being nice to her.
"Why?"
____
"You fascinate me. You really do, miss." He'd call her by her name, but frankly, Nox wasn't sure if he couldn't remember it (unlikely) or if the name had bored him. He might rename her, in the end. Maybe in memory of his little sister. What would the church do if rumor of not only Nox surviving the Caer purge, but his sister Avacyn had as well.
It was a tempting thought, but it also prevented Nox from claiming he was the last of the Old Caer. That made him feel special, and he loved that feeling, so so so very much. "And you'll never be able to get the revenge you crave while you're mortal. By the time you can take me on in a purely mental battlefield, you won't be able to physically attempt to end my life. Clinging to life, afraid to turn every corner because I could be there, only to die full of fear, alone and paranoid? That won't be a problem, if you accept my proposal."
The way he spoke made it perfectly clear that there wasn't really a choice. Her life ended here tonight, with or without her consent. She would either become a mindless spawn, a wild wolf, a dog under his command, or to become his kin. To achieve power, wealth, respect, fear, adoration, to climb on top of every other piece of filth this world offered them. To be the head of the pack. The pinnacle of the food chain. An apex predator instead of cattle.
"If you have any questions, do make it quick. I am rather famished."
____
The lump in her throat did not go away after she swallowed. Again, he spoke somewhat the truth. From what she had read, people had been trained since babes to be able to take down a vampire, years of dedication to the practice, and even then they had to work as a group.
Being bitten had its draw backs too, she learned. Many didn't survive, either due to the vampire in question becoming blood crazed in the process and killing its intended fledgling or simply not surviving the undead process. There were too many ifs and buts for Noemi's liking in the process, but if it did succeed, she would become a vampire herself. Her own words came back to her about choosing what to do with the cards that had been given to her.
"Can you promise me something?" She asked, coming in terms with what was to come. She knew she probably couldn't rely on his word, but she didn't have a choice in the matter. She had to ask, so she could prepare herself or not depending on his answer.
____
"Well, that all depends on what the promise is." It was good to see her not fighting this decision of his. Nox knew he'd be awfully cross if she tried to resist this most honorable and enviable gift. However, a small part of him wished she would've tried to resist it anyway. Thats what had made him notice her to begin with. She'd stood against the black tide of undeath that was a Caer and had fought until she was broken, physically. And that had not even broken her mentally.
She was so resilient to the change he wished to impose on her unless she had no choice. She fought everything and anything she had to do to survive. It made the giant almost giddy with anticipation. Soon, he'd have family again. And he would be the Patriarch, the Prime, the All-Father of the Caer. The thirdboy would rise to the family head, and begin the empire anew. And it all started tonight.
"Ask away. I may be able to oblige."
____
The woman held her hands up, showing she meant no harm as she walked over to her chest of drawers and put the gun down. She turned to go into her closet and to the safe there. She opened it up within a minute and pulled out a couple of items, non-descript.
While she was pulling them out, she would stuff a couple of them into her sling. Stuff she wanted to hand to him obviously, but she hoped he wouldn't notice the blade she slipped in there with a couple of photos.
"I want you to promise me you won't harm my human parents. But that you'll also tell them, some how, that I'm no longer part of the living. I won't be able to face them after today." She explained. "There are a few things I want you to send to them as well."
____
A heavy, deeply annoyed sigh. "Fine. FINE. I won't harm a hair on their heads or a drop of blood in their veins, if that convinces you to hurry this up. And I'll take the stuff over there when I tell them." He was busy examining himself in a mirror, not that he could see his person, but at least he could see his attire. The longer he stared into the reflective glass, the more frost seem to appear around its edges, and finally, it would creak and crack in protest before shattering.
"Oops. You didn't want to take that with you, now did you?" A honest question, but there was a playful naughtiness there, like a school boy pretending his prank was an accident.
____
She jumped, startled at the sound of the shattering glass and sighed. "No. I suppose I'll have no need for it." She said putting the pictures and arrangement of family heirlooms on the bed. All except the knife, she kept hidden under her arm.
"Lets get this over with, vampire." She said. She had never gotten his name, nor did she know his significance.
____
"So cold towards your new father. In the last few moments of your mortal life, you may address me as just that, vampire. Nosferatu, as my family preferred. But once you are brought under my wing, every title you give me will be Master, Father, Patron, or Nox, if my mood is informal enough for you address me by my proper name." He'd slowly remove his jacket, like he had when he'd broken her against her own cruiser, laying it out on the bed.
Turn his back to her for a single moment.
____
She watched him, the memories from the night they had first met surging forward to the front of her mind. Her heart was pounding a smooth rhythm. Ironic, this time she was sure she was going to die, and she was calmer than she had been before. Was it the months she had to come to terms with it?
"Very well. Master." She glared defiantly at him, letting him know she wasn't pleased with this with just her look.
____
"Luckily, you have plenty of clean clothes here, but I promise I won't make too much of a mess." A casual blink and he'd be in front of her, his body so cold it might as well have radiated winter itself, almost as if his body had been in a freezer for the months since they'd last seen each other. His pupils retracted into paper thin slits and his jaw unhinged, twice, with a sickly, organic popping sound.
As this happened, his mouth seemed to almost swell to triple its size, and his teeth, once so perfect and white became long, serrated knives, stained a dull reddish brown. His breath wreaked of decay, and he seemed to give off an aura of wrongness, like the world was trying to reject his very existence. This was the true form of a Caer, what the city had nearly torn itself apart to get rid of. This was a demon of blood and cold made flesh, lacking the spark of life and the conscious of its lost humanity.
Nox's voice didn't seem to come from his body anymore, instead infiltrating Noemi's mind like a cruel, black dagger. "Do not resist, child. Soon eternity will be yours." And this his fangs would snap down, piercing her flesh like a hot knife through half-melted butter, his distended jaw taking in most of her neck, as well as a good portion of her injured shoulder as well. And he'd drink. Deeply. Or so was his plan.
____
A soft cry escaped her lips as he bit into her neck, her eyes widening. She was shivering from the cold he had brought with him. Her good arm had instinctively moved up to block him, was now pinned gently against herself and him. With one last lucid thought, she reached into her sling to pull the blade from it swiftly and aimed to bring it down into the side of his neck.
____
The blade would find home, ripping into Nox's unprotected neck. His own black blood would seep out of his skin, freezing before it could drip to the floor, small -tinks- like the sound of glass resounded from her floor, becoming tiny obsidian orbs of his own corrupted essence. At first, Nox didn't seem to notice her knife work, but soon he reared back from Noemi, like a struck snake, letting her either slump to the ground or stand on her own merits, tearing the piece of metal from his neck.
Once again, that insidious invasion of her mind, sliding his thoughts into hers with an almost gentle malice. "You try, try, try until the end, and this is why you are welcomed into my family. You survive, even if it kills you." As his jaw begin to heal itself, all of his feeding teeth would fall out, only to be quickly replaced, almost like a sharks, only these teeth were his 'normal' ones, the ones he used as a guise. "You will be a power to rival my own, to equal it, to perhaps surpass it, given enough time." It was done. She was infected. Already, he could hear her heart stopping. He could see her eyes turning the same shade of blue that belonged to him and his ilk; clear, perfect ice, as blue as the sky and as cold as a blizzard. If she could survive the pain, then for the first time in half a century, Nox would have family.
____
Noemi had tried to continue to stand after he had let her go. Her knees shook at the effort, though, and soon she felt herself crumble to the floor. Her breathing was rapid, and it felt like a fire had been lit into her veins. Every uneven beat of her heart let her know that she was unfortunately still alive, as it pushed the poison further into her body and spreading the vile infection through her. Pain ate at her, and she found herself retreating to her thoughts, erratic as they were.
She laid on the floor, staring in blind pain towards the man's feet. Thump thump. Why did fate lead her to this man? Thump. Why was this happening to her, of all people? What had she done wrong? Thump thump thump. She writhed on the floor, turning her eyes up to Nox as they turned from the deep blue to the icey blue to match his own. She hated him. She wanted to kill him, more than anything else. Rage and anger fueled through her as her heart seemed resilient against the inevitable.
It seemed an eternity for Noemi, and the pain only increased. She found that her thoughts were no longer kept her shielded from giving into the pain and she cried out as waves hit her. Thump. Thump. Thump. The beating echoed in her ears, bringing more chaos and pain. And then, silence. She panted heavily, her eyes fluttering closed as she returned to that semi-state of half consciousness he had left her during their first encounter.
____
As her heart slowly withered, Nox only seemed to grow in stature. He too, realized it, and was caught off guard, even gasping in spite of himself. The ceiling was much closer now, and even his normal body, already massive and towering, paled in comparison to this...boosted stature. Was this why he remembered Father as being so...overshadowing? When that man walked into the room, everything grew smaller. Nox could only barely stifle his laughter before it was no use, erupting from him in mountainously huge torrents of maniacal glee.
He'd done it. This had been the first step to rebuilding his family's kingdom. He'd become a sire, and though it saddened him, he'd become the Prime. The curse reacting this way to him, gifting him further was the only evidence he needed that his old family was gone. He'd been the last, and had received the Gift of Fatherhood. Oh. He was so, so very proud of himself, so much so that he'd completely forgotten to enjoy the girl's torment, so much so that he could only focus on mentally jacking off his ego.
Once he'd calmed down however, he'd move downstairs and turn off her stereo, and begin to clean the lower levels too. Maybe, if she had any, he'd pour them both a class of wine to celebrate.
Unfortunately, he'd forgotten about his new state of being, and bumped his head on her stairwell as he retreated to the lower levels, glad that no one saw that.
____
A time had passed and she found herself waking from the fog that had enshrouded her being since the pain faded. Well, mostly. Peeking through one eye, even the low lights in her room seemed agonizing. The sounds of creaking and groaning in the apartment were as if they had been amplified ten fold. The scent of cleaning materials and dried blood made her stomach turn. She groaned and slowly made her way to where she was on her side.
Her mind was racing, yet no thought was clear on what was going through her mind. If this was how it was to be a vampire, it was a wonder why all of them weren't insane.
Her throat was parched, as if she hadn't had a drop to drink in an age. The need to quench it was an all consuming force that ultimately got her to start crawling towards the bathroom. She pulled herself along, every movement shaky and uncertain until she made it to the bathtub. She went to turn the knob and it broke in her grasp.
She groaned pitifully and tossed the broken knob out the room, where it bounced down the stairs.
____
Nox's ears twitched at the high pitched -clink- of a metal knickknack hitting the stairs over and over again. Maybe she'd already woken up. That'd be a nice change of pace, really. He'd have company sooner than expected, which could be nice. The apartment was spotless now, with two glasses of a fine red wine sitting alone on the table he sat at, as well as a simple crystal flask.
It was a clear flask, relatively simple in design, filled with some kind of viscous, crimson liquid.
All Nox did was unscrew the top of the container. Already, the scent was driving him wild, his pupils narrowing to fine, thin slits. It was hers however. The first meal had to be provided by the Sire, and after that, she'd be on her own for the most part, unless she came with him to the 'still-in-progress' Caer manor. For the most part, he fully intended on turning this space into his living quarters until the mansion was, mostly, complete.
____
Noemi sat in the bathroom, wishing for the silence that would never come. To say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement. She could hear everything, she thought. The fly buzzing around outside, the snoring of the neighbors next door, the cat purring several apartments away, as well as the constant sounds of the city she had toned out since she was a little girl, now brought new life and meaning to the words 'noisy'.
Touching things was almost that bad as well. Her clothes felt horribly itchy now, as earlier it had been her normal every day clothes. The glare had died down some, but everything she saw was in fine detail. She swore she could nearly count the threads in the carpet.
She slowly adjusted, except for the noise. She realized she had been using the arm that had been healing still. She twisted it and tested out its range of motion, and nothing seemed to bother her. It was about this time, a new scent filled her lungs. The burning sensation in her throat drove her again and she made her way downstairs, a somewhat dazed expression upon her face.
Her eyes glanced to the crystal flask for a moment but it was the creature that she had thought would be ages gone by now that gained her attention. Anger filled her her eyes. The thought flashed in her mind, and with inhuman speed, she crossed the room, intending to grab the man's neck.
____
He had heard her coming down the stairs. Maybe she'd be thankful of his impromptu cleaning, or the fact that he'd left her unmolested during her slumber. However, he'd guessed she'd make her first move towards the flask, ignoring everything else. He could hardly blame her. The turning left your stomach at a flat, empty zero, so when you woke up, it was with a fierce hunger. However, he'd hadn't expected her attack. However...
The Caer would make no move to stop her, in fact, he'd welcome her hands to this throat, a soft smile on his face. Everything else should feel cold to her, as dead as Noemi was. However, as soon as the new vampire made contact with her master's flesh, everything would go warm. A flood of rich sensation, everything hot, passionate, or even just mildly soothing would assault her at a whisper's touch.
"Now now now. Lets not be too hasty. You'll have plenty of time to try and kill me later girl." He'd touch the flask, still making no attempt to remove her fingers from his neck. "I'm sure you're very hungry..."
____
As soon as her hands wrapped around his throat, she faltered. The sensations clearly distracted the fledgling vampire as her mind boggled over what could cause this change. But it was the distraction that ebbed her anger enough for her senses to latch on to the intoxicating smell again. She was going back into the dreamy state of being lured when he spoke and brought her back again.
Her grip tightened again, but he could tell the hunger was winning over now. Her limbs were shaking, her eyes dilated. Her will was breaking. But even as she did in life, she fought even if it would do no good in the end.
"I. Hate. You." She bit the words, as hoarse as they were with her dry throat. She let go of his throat and grabbed for the flask desperately. Unless he stopped her, she would up-end the flask and drink what was within.
____
"I know you do. Hate is a great tool, fledgling. You'll learn to use it in time, as well as the other gifts I've given you." He watched her drink, noting to himself that it indeed made him feel joyous. She wasn't noble, and she wasn't breeding stock, but this was the first new Caer in over fifty years. It brought a warm feeling to his black, dead heart.
"Enjoy it. There will be plenty in the eternity to come, I promise you that." It was after all, real blood. From that same accountant he'd paid a visit to earlier about the girl's bills. Not that she'd have to worry about that much longer. "So, aside from ripping my head from my neck, what else do you feel like doing? Do you have any questions or desires for the night?" He'd look outside from his seat, licking his lips.
"There are plenty of cattle we could eat. Or mutts to put down. Maybe cause a little trouble, hmm? Do you feel like destroying something? Anything?"
____
She physically shivered as she drank the liquid within the flask. Knowing what it was didn't slow her down any. She had pretty much written it off as a necessary evil. She finished it off and felt a need for more. A need that would always be there.
She glanced up at Nox. It was because of him that her life had been changed. Anger welled up again, even as he spoke. But as he asked her, only one desire came to mind.
"I want to get away from this infernal noise.." She muttered, her hands reaching up for her ears. "Please make it stop.."
____
"Aaaaaah. I was hoping we could stay here, but I suppose I can show you your new home tonight after all. Its a bit of a walk, but you'll find you don't get tired as easily as before." Nox would only then stand, moving her out of his way gently as he could, moving upstairs to get his coat.
"Pack whatever you wish to bring. Or don't. It hardly makes a difference. You'll be receiving an entirely new wardrobe anyway, once I get around to making a butler. Fitted clothes hang so much better off the skin, and you'll look much prettier to boot, daughter." Nox would chuckle and shake his head, moving upstairs with grace.
____
She scowled at the thought of being dressed like a doll. 'Give it time.' The thought surfaced to the raging stream of thoughts in her mind. Glancing around the room, she saw what had been her life. Pictures of her family, her friends. Memories of her accomplishments of her short life. It was odd to think of it in that matter, that she was still standing here but technically no longer living. This place belonged to a living person. Those things belonged to a woman who decided to become an officer of the law, to help try to make this place a great place to live again. A woman who had barely begun to live on her own before the nightmare began.
No, nothing in this place belonged to her now. They belonged to someone who could use them. Her family, perhaps, for memories. Co-workers who would continue the job in her stead. The world would move on. And so would she.
"I've nothing I want." She stated. "Remember your promise, though." She stated, shoving her hands into her pockets to keep herself from ripping her ears off.
____
"I will remember it. None of the people you specified will be touched, nor done harm by my person. I swear on it, on the memory of my long departed kin." He'd bow, not intending to be mocking in any fashion. "And if thats the case, then we should leave soon. You'll find the sunlight doesn't destroy you outright, us Caer do not fear the sun, but it is painful, and will slow down your healing." He called back down to her. Nox was silent for a moment.
"Your senses will eventually adjust. You'll be able to tune out the noise. Filter it down to a single mouse in an apartment building from blocks away. You'll be able to clear those blocks in seconds. Most doors won't be able to stop you either. I've given you a lot of gifts, my child. You'll use them for your family in time."
Looking out the window, he'd slowly open it, a gust fanning his fine, silken hair out like an exquisite fan. "I think its time you met them, your brothers and sisters."
____
Noemi slowly made her way upstairs as he was speaking to her. The groan of the window as it gave away to being lifted made her wince. Once she was back into her bedroom, she stood distant from him. "Family? There are more out there then? Like you?" She asked, her fingers clenching.
More monsters creating more nightmares for other innocent people, she had meant. So she couldn't just stop with him, then.
____
The Caer would look back at her with a smile, and for that moment, seeming the size of a titan, as if the enclosed space couldn't contain him much longer. This was only for a moment though. Silently moving his lips, he'd mouth something to her without ever putting any sound to the letters before laughing, leaping into the night sky, signalling for her to follow.
The words he had silently spoken were thus; "There are no others like me."
____
Noemi narrowed her eyes at the man had once stood. She had understood what he said, but whether or not he meant it literally or figuratively would always be the question she guessed.
She hesitated though, to follow him. She stood stock still where he had left her, the conflict evident. She knew that following him out into the night would mean nothing would be the same again. Well, everything had already changed for her, nothing would be the same again either way. But staying here, she knew she would eventually become a danger to all the people around her.
Even though he was giving her a choice, he had her chained. She couldn't break free from him now. "I hate you." She whispered. She walked to the window and looked out for him, curious as to if she could really jump out of a two story window without harming herself now.
