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"Scott?" Avid calls into the woods after the vampire, who stops abruptly. Scott hadn't expected Avid of all people to chase him out of town. Well... chase him to talk that is.
"Oh? Did you want something Avid?" Scott asks coyly. Avid blushes, hesitating in thought.
"Is it true? That vampirism cures anything?" Avid asks, fidgeting nervously. Scott blinks, slightly taken off guard by this.
"Yes, anything," Scott agrees simply. His curiosity piqued at Avid's sudden interest in vampirism.
"Even... this?" Avid asks, unwrapping the bandages on his neck. Scott steps closer, investigating the wound. He runs his hand along Avid's neck, and the hunter shivers.
"Yes, it will cure that," Scott tells the hunter, backing away once more. Avid breathes a sigh of relief.
"Can you... please," Avid asks, gesturing, not wanting to admit what he's asking for. Scott raises his eyebrows, not expecting Avid's sudden willingness. Though, with what he revealed, it does make sense.
"You want me to turn you?" The vampire clarifies, and Avid nods. Scott steps closer, grabbing the hunter's wrist.
"Oh, you're not...?" Avid gestures to his neck, where he expected the vampire to bite. Scott only smirks.
"Not unless you want me too," he says with a smile. Avid blushes again, shaking his head and stuttering with embarrassment. "Are you sure about this?" Scott asks the hunter. "You could be stuck with it, there's no proof that any cure will work," the vampire warns. Avid holds firm, his decision already made.
"Scott please, I can't let myself becoming something worse," Avid says, nearly begging. Scott nods with understanding.
He lifts Avid's wrist to his mouth and bites down, deliciously sweet blood filling his mouth. The hunter flinches, gritting his teeth in pain. His nerves light on fire as the venom enters his blood. He tries not to panic, but his breathing still comes out far too rushed. Scott rubs his thumb in circles on Avid's hand, hoping to provide some comfort.
Then a chill spreads over him, and he shivers. Avid can feel his energy waning as Scott continues to drink, and he fights to keep his eyes open. He can feel his heart slow and stutter to a stop as Scott releases his wrist. Avid rests his head on Scott's shoulder, exhaustion keeping him from moving.
"It's okay, you can rest," Scott says softly, running his hand through Avid's hair. Avid slumps into the vampire's arms, asleep.
Avid wakes up slowly, a fog seeming to fade from his mind. He feels more rested than he has in a long time, and starving. He squints as sun shines through a window onto him.
That's when he notices that he's not in the castle, or in his home. He looks around to see various medical equipment and doctor aprons, making it obvious that the house is Legs'.
This does nothing to quell Avid's worry, and the new vampire rises in alarm. Why would he be in Legs' home of all places? Had he been asleep for that long that the other people in town got worried? They must have thought he was sick, but how much did they know?
He desperately hoped they hadn't seen the mark. They couldn't find out what he'd done. He hadn't wanted anyone to know, they weren't supposed to know.
With that he swung open the door, stepping out into town. A odd smell of smoke seemed to fill the air. He looked towards the center of town and his blood ran cold as he saw where the smoke was from.
"Oh good, you're awake, we were worried for awhile," Drift says, noticing Avid first. He doesn't hear her. All he can do is stare in horror as smoke rises from a pyre where Scott is tied.
"Hey Avid! We saw what Scott did, we're so sorry by the way, but now he can't hurt anyone else," Sausage says far too cheerfully. Avid suppresses a shiver.
"Yeah..." Avid mutters quietly, his heart sinking. He steps closer, hoping to see any sign of remaining life from Scott, but finding nothing.
"Give him some space, he's in shock," Apo tells everyone, moving people away from him.
"I... I gotta go," Avid says at last, the shock slowly dissipating as it's replaced with sorrow and anger.
He does not stop running once on his way to the castle.
"Owen! Owen, let me in please!" Avid yells between labored breaths. The large door to the castle cracks open.
"What do you want Avid?" Owen asks, anger filling his tone. He can't believe the audacity Avid would have to come to the vampires' home, and to call for Owen at that. The hunter must have a death wish.
"Scott, they have Scott," Avid says quickly, still trying to regain his breath. Owen freezes at that, and the door opens a little more.
"What did you do to Scott?" Owen asks harshly. If Avid did something to harm him... Not that Owen didn't trust Scott to defend himself, but he wouldn't let any human touch his newfound family.
"He cured me, he turned me, I asked him too, but they..." Avid hesitates, a deep sorrow suddenly gripping his heart. It didn't make sense, how much he felt, when he'd been enemies with Scott only days before his turning. Owen gets a sinking feeling that this whole situation feels far too familiar. "They burned him," Avid almost whimpers. Tears prick his eyes and he curls in on himself. Owen's eyes narrow with unrelenting hatred, but for once it wasn't directed at Avid. He pushes it aside for now, the lost fledgling in front of him requiring his attention.
"Come in, I'll get Shelby and Pyro," Owen says softly, gently pulling Avid inside. He rests a gentle, comforting arm on the young vampire. Avid curls into the older vampires chest, finally allowing himself to cry. Owen stands frozen in shock for a moment, before gently rubbing his back.
He glares out at the direction of town. He's been too kind, and Oakhurst is due for another massacre.