as written by Tiko, Faithy, and KittyWolfSpirit
The following night...
Viktor was barely keeping on his feet by the time he and Valentina reached the front door and the pressure of his hand over his wound was doing little to stem the bleeding. Bloodied fingers fumbled with the keys to the lock as he threw a glance up and down the street hoping that his neighbors wouldn't notice anything amiss and call the police.
It was still dark out though, and the street was quiet as the residents of Cedarwood Grove slumbered.
His hand was shaking as he tried to unlock the door, and the key fell from his grasp to land on the stoop. It wouldn't take much of an assessment for Valentina to realize his condition was deteriorating. His eyes were blood shot, and his skin had taken on the white pallor of death as if he hadn't fed in weeks.
He didn't speak, he only nodded towards the door, indicating Valentina get it open.
____
The longer she walked with Viktor and saw the blood pouring from his wounds, the more concerned, Valentina seemed to grow. However, she kept her mouth shut up until they reached his home, remembering it from the last time the two of them were together. Frowning a little, she knelt down when he dropped the key, picking it up, before standing back up again. Slipping it into the lock, she unlocked the door and swung it open, letting him go in before her.
"Viktor... what is happening to you? Slipping inside, she closed the door once he was inside and locked it back up again. She sat down on the floor nearby and let NomNom crawl into her lap. It bothered her that she not only just lost her sire, but the only other Vampire she knew was bleeding out and wouldn’t tell her what she could do to help. Her eyes shifted down towards the ground and she poked at it a few times before flopping back onto her back,
“Why did you do that to that woman, Viktor…? I didn’t think we killed humans… just drank from them. The only time I’ve seen a vampire act like that was when my parents were attacked and killed… the night Lily saved me.” Her voice was soft and she tried to keep from crying.
____
She had been tossing the idea of taking a stroll about in her mind for the last few hours. Viktor had taken leave in good health and she was certain he wouldn’t mind her coming or going as she pleased. However, she felt uncomfortable with the idea of leaving the front door unlocked in consideration of all his valuables present. She had finally had come to the conclusion she would stick within ear shot of the door and wander the grounds when she heard the front door open.
Her stomach churned at the thick smell of vampiric blood and a good deal of it. She recognized the scent almost immediately. Lord of Chaos, Viktor?! She cried out in her mind. In moments, she was standing within sight of the door. She saw Viktor’s condition and then saw the child. She knew immediately by the smell that the child was vampiric as well. She looked back to Viktor. Forgive me if this injures your pride Viktor. She thought to herself as she darted to his side immediately.
**Viktor, you must feed to heal. Let me repay the favor you kindly showed me.** She tried to send him with her telepathic abilities.
She hoped that he wouldn’t block her message to him. She prayed that he would take her offer.
“Let’s get you to a chair to relax.” She said softly, offering herself to him as a walking aid if he would allow her to wrap his am around her shoulders to help brace him.
She looked to the child; she had heard the girl’s question. But she was not concerned on how he got to be like this, just how to keep him with them. She didn’t know why she had such concern for Viktor, she hardly knew him. But she felt determined to keep him with them on this plane. She would get answers later if he was willing to give them to someone like her.
____
Viktor nodded briefly to Talryia's offer as he let her take his weight against herself, seemingly glad of the support as they made their way inside. It seemed a sin to lay the bloody vampire down on the pristine white couch, but under the circumstances, explaining this to the house cleaner was the least of their concerns.
He grit his teeth in pain as he sank down onto the couch, his hand still pressed to the wound. Unfortunately the crossbow quarrel had gone clean through, and the wound was bleeding out from the back as well.
He grimaced as he reached across with his other hand, to fish around in his pocket for his phone before offering it out to her with bloody fingers.
"Valentina, call Christian's number. Get him here."
The number would be in the contacts list on the phone, provided she knew how to use it.
____
Valentina blinked as she realized there was another individual in Viktor’s house and from the figure’s appearance, she was a female. Studying her silently, Val took in her mannerisms as well as what she looked like. Did he get a girlfriend since she saw him last? She wasn’t for sure, but she felt out of place when the female helped him to a nearby couch. Her question was overlooked, but for the moment, that was probably the best. First thing that needed to be done was to get him so that he was healing. The fact that he let this stranger help him when he wouldn’t tell her what she could do stung a little, but if they were dating, then well, that did make sense.
Staring at the phone as he fished it out of his pocket before handing it over to her, Valentina blinked in confusion. Call Christian? Who was that? Who was this female, and what was she holding in her hands? Val was cycling through question after question in her mind, still just peering at the phone as if it was this strange piece of equipment, which is pretty much was to her. Finally flipping it open, she stared at the bright screen, gasping softly. Before beginning to push all kinds of buttons, she read what it said and found one that said menu. After scrolling through the options, she found contacts and nodded slightly before managing to find a Christian. Hitting another button, she was glad when the device began to ring. Holding it against her ear, upside down at first, she swore and flipped it back around, waiting for someone to answer.
“Ummm… hi. I was told to call you by Viktor.”
"Huh? Who is this?" a young male voice spoke back over the phone.
“My name isn’t your business, Christian. Viktor was shot with an bolt and is now on his couch bloody and not healing and there’s some woman here that I don’t know and I think he needs to feed, but there’s not a human here because I don’t think she’s human because of her appearance, but I don’t know what’s going on and he won’t tell me, but he told me to call you, so I called you, so just come to his place right now.” Valentina barely took a breath between her words, becoming more and more frantic as the seconds ticked by.
"Wait, what? Slow down. Who shot him? What happened?" the voice replied. "You know what, never mind. Tell me when I get there." The phone on the other end of the line hung up.
____
She was happy to see Viktor take her aid to the couch. She watched the young girl from corner of her eye, smiling softly for a moment at the young girl’s confusion of the phone. Once she noticed the girl navigated the phone after a little bit of navigating difficulty, she turned her full attention to Viktor. She kneeled beside Viktor, a look of genuine concern on her face for the wound. Vampires typically heal quickly. What did this to you Viktor? You should be healing. Why aren’t you healing? Was it a blessed weapon? These questions raced through her mind and many more. Her concern deepening for Viktor by each moment’s passing that the bleeding didn’t slow. She reached for his hand hoping to hold his hand, more as a sentiment of comfort that she was here for him than anything.
She bit into her wrist quickly and then lowered it to his mouth. With her other arm she made an attempt to offer cradling his shoulders up a little to make it possibly easier or more comfortable for him to feed. She wasn’t sure if her gesture was pointless or not, but she hoped it would make things easier. She glanced to the girl. She knew the girl was vampiric, but she knew nothing of the girl’s mannerisms and how she would likely take a stranger feeding Viktor in her presence. It was more out of respect for the girl’s possible feelings as she adjusted herself to block her actions from view of the girl. She also didn’t want to alarm the girl any more than she already seemed to be. She needed to be strong and calm at least visibly…at least for the girl’s sake more than anything. It was a motherly type of instinct from being human and helping many women in the tribe with their youngsters that made her worry of the child’s state of mind and feelings. She knew Viktor was his usual calm collected self and naturally this didn’t seem to change that despite the urgency of his condition. She honestly wondered to herself if the man had ever showed genuine emotion.
____
The scent of the woman's blood, and the warmth of it on his lips was all the encouragement that Viktor needed.
He took Talryia's wrist in hand and when he bit down it wasn't at all gentle. The hot blood drew a growl to his throat, and he closed his eyes against the primal blood lust that rose in him.
He was a man who took measured self-control in everything he did in life, but twice now this evening he found himself overtaken by his baser instincts. This time it was the instinct to survive that pushed him to feed with such voracity.
When he finally released her, he had a flush of color to his skin again, but his eyes remained blood shot and his expression pained.
____
Valentina frowned into the phone when he started to ask her what happened before just hanging up. Or at least that was what she assumed happened because the line went dead. The speaker had been male, which was to be expected since his name was Christian. Poking at the screen, she brought it back up to her ear, hissed loudly and tried to reach through it to grab at him. Apparently, that wasn’t how this thing worked, so she once again she placed it against her ear and licked her fangs before biting on her bottom lip. She was still expecting him to say something even though logic dictated he was gone.
“Hello? How the hell do you work this thing?” Snorting, she closed the phone and placed it down on the floor.
Shifting her gaze back towards the two, she frowned when the female bit her wrist and even though the female hid what was going on, Valentina could smell the blood that was not Viktor’s and snarled lightly in her throat. NomNom crawled back up to his master’s head, getting comfortable again and she hissed into the phone, hoping that the guy was at least on his way over. She slid backwards until her back was pressed against a wall and she tugged both legs up against her chest, scowling at what was happening. Dropping her chin down, she ignored her kitty’s mewls and let him get comfortable again. She kept her head down when Viktor began to feed, images of what had happened earlier flashing through her mind. Whimpering softly, she started rocking back and forth, NomNom ending up having to jump down beside her to keep from being tossed off her head. It wasn’t until she saw out of the corner of her eyes that he had stopped feeding that she finally glanced back up again.
____
She tried to fight the wince, but it happened as he bit into her wrist with bloodlust driving behind it. She straightened her features after a few moments, taking some level of difficulty to straighten her features though. She still felt pain like she were human; she had only a portion of the vampiric healing. It was only half as fast as theirs was when fully fed. She didn’t care about that now. She started to smile in fact as he fed. Even though it was brutal and needing, the sensation of being fed from was somewhat sensual to her. She felt the pain, but as he fed more she felt more relaxed about it.
She came to her senses at hearing the girl and felt her strength starting to languish a little. Thankfully, he released her shortly after. Even in bloodlust he had control. She admired him for such a thing. She stood up, gently laying him back down. She turned away from them a moment, then glanced back.
“I will be back in a moment.” She said to him softly.
Before allowing him to respond, she used her speed to take off and get to the guest room she was staying. Her wrist was still bleeding. It would take about half hour for it to finish closing. Her shirt was slightly bloody as she finally found gauze bandaging in her pack. She quickly wrapped it about her wrist. Then considered grabbing a new shirt, but she decided against it since there was still blood around. No point ruining two shirts.
After a few minutes she grabbed some first aid materials and then darted back to where Viktor and the girl were. She wasn’t sure why she brought first aid supplies, but maybe it would help, maybe not. She was not quite sure.
She had never let a vampire feed from her, nor had anyone in her village that she had heard of. So she hoped there would not be any adverse issues. Though knowing the Lady of Malevolent Chaos and her love for vampires, she doubted there would be any so she shook the fear from mind.
____
By the time Christian arrived an hour later, Viktor had succumbed to a restless sleep. He had fed, and the wound had been dressed as best was able, but the bleeding had yet to show any sign of healing. He was for lack of a better term an animated corpse, and he lacked the natural means of healing that humans had. Whatever was interfering with his vampiric regeneration was making it difficult to properly stop the bleeding, and he had no natural means of healing to fall back upon. The dressing had helped in slowing it though.
Christian didn't bother knocking as he, and Varia at his heels, filled into the room. Having been unable to know if the phone call had been a deception of some nature or another, he had opted for bringing the somewhat volatile woman along.
"Who the fuck are you people?" Varia growled at the pair of strangers in the room as the scent of blood filled her nostrils.
Christian meanwhile threw no more than suspicious glances at Talyria and Valentina before he moved to Viktor's side. He pulled the coat back enough to get a look at the blood soaked dressing before trying to rouse him.
"Viktor? Viktor can you hear me?" When no response came he looked instead to Talyria. "What happened to him?" he asked. "And how long ago did he feed?" It was perhaps youthful ignorance that he had turned to Talyria over the 'child' in the room. An ignorance that he should have known better about given his own past involvement with vampiric children whose ages were not reflected in the youth of their bodies
____
When the female disappeared, she started to creep towards Viktor, but only got a few paces before she suddenly appeared again with a first aid kit. Squeaking and shoving herself back against the wall, Valentina hugged her legs right back up against her chest, rocking back and forth again. She whimpered softly, going back to the night her parents were slaughtered in front of her. This was how she spent the majority of the night before she decided to be turned and even after she had been, she was generally like this. In fact, it hadn’t even been too long ago before she was turned. In all respects, it had only been a little over a year since she lost her parents and was offered immortality by Lily. Now that she thought about it though, the child really wished she would have waited until she was older before being turned. Returning her attention towards the situation at hand, she watched as Viktor finally fell asleep.
Being left alone with a complete stranger, though in all actuality, Viktor was a stranger too, Valentina wasn’t sure what to say or do. So, she instead continued to rock in place, watching NomNom sitting silently beside her. Unsure how much time had passed, she snarled and glanced towards the door when it swung open and two figures stepped inside. Her lavender eyes narrowed towards the male and female before she slid back further, trying to find some shadows. Though, she growled at the woman and managed to overcome some of her fear for at least a moment.
“Who the fuck are you?! What makes you think you can just waltz in here!” She hissed before darting back into her crouched sitting position. When the male, who she began to wonder if he was Christian, asked the female that Viktor had fed from what happened and how long ago he fed, Valentina snarled softly.
“He got shot with a bolt by a mean man!”
____
Talrya sat in silence after Bandaging Viktor. She watched him and frowned at the lack of improvement other than a slight slow of blood. She glanced here and there to the young girl in silence. This poor child, surely she had seen a lot of things in her time however long she had been turned. But this still seemed to affect the child. Her human emotions hadn't waned any like they often did with time. She must be a young vampire then considering her behavior. She half wanted to scooped the girl in her arms and console the girl that everything would be alright, but she wasn't sure if one the girl would tolerate it and two if that was appropriate behavior between two strangers or not even in the current circumstances.
After about an hour the door slammed open. Her attention snapped to alert and looked to the figures coming in. The man she hoped, would be this Christian that Viktor seemed confident could help. The woman she immediately recognized as the hot tempered female that had argued with Viktor earlier when she had arrived at the town home. She was uneasy in the hot tempered woman's presence, but she didn't show it. She held her stance strong and confident despite how she felt. She wouldn't give the woman the means to feel she had any power or anything over her at all.
Upon hearing the questions thrown their way with aggressive tones, she knew they were aimed mainly toward her as most people would dismiss the child. Figuring, despite her race, that she would be unable to coherently help them and/or answer them. She stepped aside some to allow Christian in to examine Viktor. She followed Christian with a mix of caution and concern for if he could help Viktor.
She responded in a calm gentle voice to Christian first, feeling his questions were more pressing to the matter than the volatile woman's demand. "I am not certain what happened to be honest. I was here. Viktor came home in this condition with aid of the Child. I would assume..." She was cut off by the young girl's response and her gaze fell to the child. " I would assume possible hunters considering the condition the two came home in. I fed him while the child was on the phone informing Christian of Viktor's condition. So about an hour ago. I also dressed the wound in attempt to help. I couldn't think of anything else to do but be here for him and do what little I have. I know nothing of alchemy or medical affairs."
She then glanced up to Varia, "It is a long story I am sure to who we are. So let's just do simple introductions and then once Viktor is well we will get into to details on both our presences and being with Viktor." She answered softly to Varia. "My name is Lady Talrya Rei Katsumi. I am a recent acquaintance of Viktor's. I am not even sure of who the child is. I figured Viktor's condition was a more pressing matter than simple pleasantries and introductions." She looked into Varia's eyes with a raise of one brow to her in genuine interest. "You are?"
____
"Oh come off it Varia," Christian muttered.
"And who died and put you in charge?" Varia spat back.
"Viktor if you don't shut up and make yourself useful," Christian snapped back.
That seemed to calm her a bit, as the thought that Viktor might be any real danger hadn't particularly crossed her mind.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked.
"I don't know," Christian replied. "He's going to need to feed again soon. If this bleeding doesn't stop he's going to need to feed every hour or two, and I don't know where we're going to find that sort of blood supply on short notice."
He sat back on his heels as he mulled over the matter.
"Someone calm that kid down, so I can find out exactly what happened?" he asked.
____
Valentina scowled slightly, her arms wrapping tighter around her legs. Once again dropping her head down against her knees, she glared at the newer arrivals, before realizing that the other female finally introduced herself. So, she was a Lady, whatever that meant. Ignoring NomNom as he crawled onto her shoulder, she glanced towards the other two and sat up straight, mostly
“I am Valentina Rosetti and I met Viktor a while back and again tonight. My … I… I was looking for my Sire, but she is dead… I found her in an alley… her body was mutilated and her head was cut off and put on her body. I then ran into Viktor and we were coming back here when … hunters or whatever followed us. We went up a huge fire escape and that’s when he got shot with the bolt. Oh, and my white kitty's name is NomNom.” Frowning, she curled up again, rocking back and forth.
____
She kneeled down next to Valentina and wrapped a comforting arm around the girl to try to calm her. She offered soft warm smile to the girl to try to give her a sense that things were going to be alright despite her uncertainty in herself if that was indeed true. That is why the poor child is so shaken up. It was probably her first encounter with hunters. Viktor, please be alright. What were you doing out there anyway? Did I drain you too much and you had to feed? If so, then this is all my fault he is like he is. However, if he wasn’t there…what would happen to Valentina had he not been there for her? She thought to herself. She then looked to Christian and then to Varia with a look of calm on her face again, hiding her inner turmoil with ease.
She then turned back to Valentina, “I love kitties. They are such adorable, personality filled little critters. Can I pet NomNom? It is a pleasure to meet you both. “She spoke with a warm, almost motherly tone of voice as she addressed Valentina.
She would give Valentina a moment to consider her request, but for now she would address the issue of Viktor.
“I will feed him.” She answered calmly as if the idea of being fed on didn’t unnerve her.
In fact, it didn’t disconcert her considering she had fed him once already. She wasn’t sure how long she would be able to maintain her strength, but she wanted to do anything she could to help since this was most likely her fault in the matter of his current state. She wasn’t sure why she felt so driven to help him. She typically wouldn’t careless what happened to her meal. Something was different. She cursed her human emotions for still lingering. The Lady of Malevolent Chaos had fun tormenting her followers, especially her new creations.
____
"Unless you can spare a pint of blood every hour or two, we're going to need more," Christian told Talryia. "You'll be dead in hours. Varia I need you to-"
"Fuck no. I'm not playing errand girl while he bleeds out. We need to get out there and find the fucking pieces of shit that did this," Varia spat.
Christian grit his teeth in frustration. "He won't last the day if we don't get blood in him, Varia. A lot of it. The only place we're going to find that much blood is a blood bank, unless we want to start piling bodies up in the basement."
Varia's wolfish eyes were a swirl with anger, but whatever retort she had she bit off as she turned and left.
"She'll get it," Christian assured the other two. "We're going to need to set you up with an IV in the meanwhile, it'll be more efficient. And kid, is there anything you can tell me about the people you ran into? What they looked like? What they were dressed like? I don't suppose you have the bolt? I could run some tests on it if I did."
____
It took Valentina a lot to keep from shying away from Talyria when she wrapped an arm around her. She didn’t do comfort all that well, but right now it felt okay. After all, she no longer had Lily to take care of her, so she needed to find someone else. Or she would probably end up getting killed, especially since there were hunters out there. Frowning at the memory of what had just happened, she glanced over towards the Lady when she asked to pet NomNom. Blinking, she peered at the kitten who mewed before rubbing himself against Talyria’s legs.
“Sure… he likes being petted.” She smiled faintly, her eyes tearing up again before she managed to push back the emotion.
Valentina was glad when Varia was sent to get some blood because she made her extremely uncomfortable and maybe a little edgy. Once she was out of the house, the vampire relaxed a little, though she remained up against the wall, her knees still against her chest. Her attention shifted towards Christian and she decided she wasn’t so sure about him either, especially when he called her kid, not by her real name. Snarling, she flashed her fangs at him, mostly out of habit, since it wouldn’t phase him.
“The name is Valentina, you ass! No, I didn’t see them… one had stepped in front of us down the street, but Viktor stepped in front of me before putting me up on the fire escape and told me to climb. The bolt was removed when we slipped inside of the building… I picked it up, but didn’t think to bring it.”
____
Every muscle in her body tensed at his practical dismissal of her offer. Upon hearing Valentina’s comment of him being an ass she couldn’t help but agree more with Valentina on that factor. He did She stood up briskly and walked over to Christian.
“Look Christian…You know absolutely nothing about me.” She growled in annoyance. “I may not be able to handle a whole day But I can Fucking handle a few hours til that hot headed woman gets back! Whatever it fucking takes to keep Viktor here!” She softened her means and temperament. “I owe him that much if not more than you could understand.” She said softly. “So do me a favor stick the IV in and let’s do this. Take whatever you need for him. I’ll deal with the consequences of it at my own leisure.”
She sat on her knees next to the couch and thought to herself appreciatively that she had just a tshirt on. She sighed and glanced to Valentina and NomNom.
“NomNom, here Kitty kitty.” She coaxed holding her hand out for him to come over so she could pet the kitty.
She returned a determined look to Christian. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Upon hearing him talk of the Iv in the meantime she settled down. She looked to Viktor, a look of sheer concern.
“Whatever it takes Viktor.” She whispered softly.
____
"Yes well, unless you have twelve liters of blood in you, or are named Kisa, then get over it," Christian told her. "Trust me when I say I've bled enough people to know something about this," he said with a snort. "For now we'll set you up to give him a blood transfusion until Varia gets back."
He got up, making his way to some drawers that he pulled open, rummaging through them. Whatever he was looking for he wasn't finding though and after three drawers he stood back up with a scowl.
"There should be med supplies around here somewhere," he said.
Unfortunately it had been months since he had been here last and he ran a hand through his hair as he tried to remember where Viktor kept any of his shit.
"I'm going to check the other rooms," he said as he headed down the hall.
____
Valentina watched Lady Talyria walk over to Christian while mentally noting that Christian didn’t seem to be listening to her. Sighing, she tried to ignore the fact that Viktor was still bleeding out and that despite the other female willing to give her own blood in order to sustain him until the other Vampire returned, Christian had a point. She didn’t have an infinite amount of blood, so eventually, they would have to stop. Nudging NomNom forward when Talyria called for him, she cautiously kept her gaze upon her white kitty, glad that he was so used to others being around and wanting to pet him. He leisurely walked over to her and rubbed his face against her outstretched hand. Returning her attention towards Christian, she was glad when he finally walked out of the room, heading down the hallway for medical supplies. Left alone with Lady Talyria, Valentina relaxed ever so slightly, watching NomNom batting at her hand.
“…How do you know Viktor? Are you his girlfriend or something? He didn’t have a woman here the last time he brought me here. I’m glad you here though, because I don’t think those other two like me and I’m afraid they’re going to throw me out of here. Then I might get killed like my sire…” Frowning, Val hugged her legs against her chest again, shifting her lavender eyes towards the ground.
____
She knew Christian was right about her not being able to produce blood for Viktor forever. She didn't care though, she owed Viktor. She would do whatever it took to get him back to health.
She smiled warmly to the kitten and wiggled her fingers to get it to play. She was trying her best to lighten the mood. It was tense in the room, but she could feel some of the tension ease from both her and the girl who called herself, Valentina. It seemed like the man was a huge stress to more than just her.
Her eyes went wide in surprise by Valentina's inclination to if Viktor and her were a pair. She smiled and laughed softly. "No, I am not Viktor's girlfriend. I am just a friend he met recently. He did a favor for me, a big one. So the least I could do is return the favor by helping him out a bit." She softened to a more motherly heir. "I don't think they like either of us Valentina. But them liking us or not isn't the issue, Viktor's health is and right now you are the link to what happened...and I am the link to keep Viktor here until that other woman gets back. Besides, this is Viktor's house, and if he welcomed us into his home, then we are welcome. They've no say whether we stay or go. Viktor does."
It felt nice hearing Valentina say she was pleased to have her presence. She knew the girl was concerned, it had been a hellish night for young Valentina. "I understand how it feels to loose someone you care for deeply. I lost someone long ago who meant much to me. It will hurt for a long while Valentina. But in the end you will grow strong and be able to handle it better. Though the pain from it will never go away, you just learn to cope with it better." She explained gently to the girl.
With a warm smile, she opened her arms to offer Valentina to come to her and get a hug to help make her feel better.
