Archive of Our Own

The morning after Avid spent his first night in his silver jail cell, he met Drift in front of their home. Drift greeted him and, thankfully, didn’t ask where he'd been last night. He could see the hurt in her eyes, but she carefully kept it out of her voice to act like everything was fine. Avid felt awful about that— Drift probably assumed that Avid didn’t feel safe around her anymore— but he was too preoccupied with his own self loathing to say anything. Still, he tried his best to make it up to her. 

“Do you want to go gather some wood? I want to turn the vampire awareness clinic into a meeting place for the vampires in town, so we don’t all keep meeting outside where anyone can listen in.” Avid was sure that the vampires in the castle would still try to overhear their conversations, but at least the townsfolk would be more secluded inside a building. 

Drift brightened significantly at the suggestion and cheerfully agreed. They left Oakhurst together to search for pale wood and dark oak. Avid played dumb by asking Drift if she slept well last night (he found out the hard way that vampires don’t sleep, and stared mournfully at the inside of his cell all night) and why she doesn’t sizzle in the sunlight (he already knew the answer, but pretended to be surprised when she explained). Drift didn’t seem to suspect him at all, so he must be doing a good job at keeping his humanity. 

They had a stack of wood between them when Drift made an uncomfortable face. “Can we take a quick break?” She asked. She glanced in between the trees. “I’m kind of hungry.”

Avid set his axe down next to the stump he had been working on. “Uh, yeah, sure. Do you…” he trailed off awkwardly. 

Drift’s eyes grew wide. “I won’t try to feed off of you! I don’t want to drink from my friends. I’m just going to go kill some animals, I’ll be right back.” Her hurt was evident. Avid cringed. 

“No! That’s not what I meant. I believe you!” He declared. He waved his hands emphatically. “I just… don’t know how to talk about it, I guess.” 

Drift deflated. She looked sad and defeated. “Me neither, Avid.” She sighed, and kicked the dirt. “This whole thing sucks. I got cocky, and Scott turned me. I don’t know what I’m doing, or really how any of this works. I just don’t want to hurt my friends, and no one seems to want to believe me.” 

Avid’s chest tinged with sadness. “I believe you,” he reassured. “My best friend was bitten, but the creature she became was nothing like you, or any of the vampires here, and it took me a while to realize that. She was feral, and I had to fight her off. You— you still have your kindness,” He mused. “I’m not sure about Scott, or Owen, but I believe the rest of you do. You can be saved.” 

Drift blinked rapidly and looked away. “Thanks, Avid.” She offered him a watery smile. “I really needed to hear that.” She collected herself. “Seriously, though, I just saw a pig over there, and I’m really hungry.” She gestured between the trees with a laugh.

Avid smiled back. “Go ahead! Take your time. Will one pig be enough to do it?” He asked because he’s genuinely not sure. He fed himself last night with what raw steaks he had available, but he didn’t count how many he ate. 

Drift raised a shoulder in a half shrug. “Probably not. Can we take a five minute break? I’ll go get some food and be right back.” 

Avid shrugged. He didn’t mind waiting for her. “Sure. I’ll just chop some more trees here.” He considered sneaking off in the opposite direction to look for some food as well. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and if he was fast enough, he would be able to get back before Drift. He just had to hope he stumbled across a chicken or cow quickly. 

Drift beamed. “Great! I’ll be back in a few.” She waved goodbye with her fingers, and stepped between the trees.

Avid watched her go, still smiling, before he let his smile drop and picked up his axe. He would have to be quick. He turned to beeline for the other end of the clearing, but a voice stopped him cold. 

“That was touching,” Scott drawled, and Avid whipped his head around, scanning the trees. He couldn’t see Scott anywhere. 

“Where are you?” He asked shrilly. He looked for a glimpse of white hair and a cape, and saw nothing but trees. 

Scott laughed dryly. “I’m not invisible. Look up.” Avid’s head jerked up. Scott lounged on a top branch of a magnificent oak tree. He peered down at him with a smirk. 

“What do you want?” Avid scowled. His grip tightened on his axe. 

Scott waved a hand tacitly. “Just to chat. Shelby told me they didn’t really get the chance to explain anything to you.” He pushed himself up with his hands into a sitting position. His red eyes glittered in the dappled sun. He moved with the grace of a wild cat, powerful and lithe. “You deserve to know all of the perks that come with your new lifestyle. And, I want you to come with me to the castle.”

If Avid were still completely human, he was sure his face would be bloodless. “To the castle?” He echoed in a high pitch. He shook his head. “You can say whatever you want to say here. I’m not going to your creepy castle.”

Scott rolled his eyes. “See, that right there is the issue.” He let himself fall from the branch, and landed perfectly on his feet in the shade of the tree. “I’m sick of people wanting to become vampires, only to turn around and paint us as villains. What’s the difference between you and me, other than I live in a castle?” 

Avid blinked, speechless. “You eat people,” he accused. 

Scott cocked an eyebrow. “Do I?” He asked as he boredly inspected his nails. “Have you ever seen me eat someone?” 

Avid faltered. “What about Shelby? Or Apo? You can’t expect me to believe that they wanted to become vampires.” 

Scott lazily rested a hand on his hip. “Shelby loves being a vampire,” he rebutted. “She was obsessed with the supernatural already. Now she is her own proof, and she can turn into a bat and fly around to find more proof. Apo,” he waved a hand, “Apo made a deal she couldn’t uphold, and then she tried to kill me several times. We had a conversation. She begged me to turn her into a vampire, and I agreed.” He looked at Avid, his gaze sharp. “But I know they didn’t tell you that. They were too ashamed to admit it. They were all too happy to run around the town and call me a monster, and pretend like they weren’t one too.” He held a hand to his chest. “Which is why I’m here. I want to clear up any misconceptions you have, and show you that we are actually normal people with a completely normal home.”

Avid fixed him with a look. “And what about Drift? You can’t convince me that Drift wanted to be a vampire.” 

Scott scoffed. “Drift was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She bit off more than she could chew.” He gestured in the direction that Drift had walked off in. “But she’s fine, and clearly not eaten. This is what I’m talking about,” he continued. His hand dropped to his side. “You assume things that aren’t true, and everyone wants to make me out to be the bad guy when I can’t defend myself! It’s not fair to me when I haven’t done anything wrong.” 

“I want to hear Drift’s side of that,” Avid countered. He glanced in the direction that Drift had gone. Shouldn’t she be coming back by now? 

Scott shook his hair out of his face. “See? You don’t want to believe me. You can’t admit that I might be right.” He sauntered forward, and stopped halfway between the tree and where Avid stood. “You should come see the castle,” he pleaded, his voice earnest. “Come see how we really live. I promise we’re not that scary. And, I know you’re curious about what happened to your friend. Don’t you want to know for sure?” He grinned, and flashed a hint of fang. “I’m very knowledgeable.” 

Avid stared at Scott as the gears in his brain turned. There wasn’t much that Scott could really do to hurt him anymore, right? Scott couldn’t bite him because Avid had already been bitten. And Avid could probably hold his own in a fight against Scott with his newfound abilities. 

He weighed the pros and cons. On the downside, he’d be in Scott’s creepy castle and forced to endure his evil monologue. On the upside, he could go back to town and tell everyone what the inside of Scott’s castle looked like, so they had a plan for when they attacked. Or maybe find something in the castle that could help them make the cure.

And he could gather information about how Elle died. And wasn’t that the reason why he was in town in the first place?

But there were two things holding him back. “What about Drift?” He implored feebly. “She’ll be back any moment.”

Scott glanced at the direction Drift had disappeared. “No, I think she’ll be busy for a while. It’s not easy to find a lot to eat around this part of the forest. Trust me, I’d know.” Scott’s statement sounded innocuous enough, but there was an underlying current in his tone that made Avid uneasy. Then again, Scott always made him uneasy.

He went back to the pros and cons. The possibility of gaining information was too great. He’d be able to help so many people: Shelby, Drift, Cleo, Legundo, Apo. Elle. He took a shaky breath. “Alright.” He acquiesced. “I’ll go with you, only on my terms. I don’t have to listen to everything you say, and the second that I want to leave, you’ll let me go.” 

Scott laughed breezily. “Of course! You can leave whenever you want. I don’t want to force you to do anything.” He shifted his weight. “Now, I don’t suppose you know where the castle is from here, do you?” 

An idea popped into Avid’s mind. “No.” He affirmed. “But we could both turn into bats and fly there. I know how to do that, and I’ll follow you.” He was not fully committed to the idea, held back by his own fear and anxiety. He wanted an escape plan, in case he got near the castle and decided to chicken out.

“Ah, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Scott demurred. He put his hand on his chin like he was thinking. “You could get lost, and we don't want that. I’ll just carry you.” 

Avid’s eyes grew wide. He set down his axe and held up his hands. “Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he protested, but Scott was already closing the distance between them with a smile.

“Nonsense!” Scott assured, and before Avid could say anything, Scott grabbed under Avid’s knees and hauled him off his feet. Avid could feel his supernatural strength in the way that he effortlessly held Avid in a princess carry. He looked down at Avid with a smug expression. “This way you won’t get turned around,” he said, all too pleased with himself. Scott adjusted his grip, and Avid clung to his neck so he wouldn't fall. 

“You better hold on tight.” And then they were off. Scott ran through the forest at an inhuman speed, and Avid knew that if he were still completely human, the world would have been a blur of browns and greens. But now, with his enhanced vision, he could see where they are going, but he wasn’t familiar with the woods to make out landmarks. He frowned, and desperately tried to remember specific trees, or the way the ground changed in elevation, but it didn’t help. He steadied his anxious nerves and reminded himself that he knew the way back to town from the castle in case he needed to run.

Scott’s movements were so effortlessly fluid and smooth that he didn’t jostle Avid at all. It took only a few seconds to get from the clearing to the crumbling castle bridge. Scott didn’t set him down on the bridge, but instead carried him all the way across before he set him down gently at the looming front doors. Scott pushed a wooden door open with one hand. It groaned ominously with age and weight. “Come on in,” Scott motioned. Avid stared at the unfamiliar dimness that lay beyond, told himself it was too late to back out now, and marched through the open door. 

The interior was breathtaking. The walls and floors were dark oak and brick, and the tall ceiling curved above their heads. Lanterns flickered and shadows danced up the brick walls. He inhaled, and smelled wood, dust, and sweet, heady wine. Or was that blood? He couldn’t tell. A long oak table took up the center of the room, complete with matching chairs and a red runner down the middle. 

“This is the dining room. Most of the castle is still unfinished, so I won’t give you a full tour, but we will eat in here.” Scott strode ahead and stopped a few feet from the table. 

Avid furrowed his brows. “Eat? I just wanted to talk.” He was, admittedly, hungry, but he also wanted to spend as little time in Scott’s presence as possible. 

Scott gestured widely to the grand room. “We will talk, of course, but what’s a conversation without an accompanying meal?” 

Avid frowned. “I’m not hungry,” he objected, but Scott sent him a look over his shoulder. 

“I’m not sure what the social norms are like anymore,” Scott began. He turned to face Avid and clasped his hands together. “But before I fell asleep for six hundred years, it was common courtesy to be appreciative when someone invited you over to their home and offered you a meal.” He gestured to himself with flourish. “I’m trying to be a good host. You wanted proof of how we really live; let me show you that I’m civilized.”

Avid grit his teeth. “Fine,” he said tartly. He hurried past Scott, stopped behind one of the chairs, and pulled it away from the table “I’ll sit here. We can eat now and get this over with.” 

Scott cocked an eyebrow. His smile sharpened at the edges. “Not yet,” he corrected, and then he stood behind Avid, close enough to touch. “You need to get cleaned up first. When’s the last time you had a bath?” 

“I don’t need a bath,” Avid denied. His fingers tightened on the oak wood chair. “And I’d rather eat now.” 

Scott’s smile remained firmly in place. “Oh, but I insist. It’s only good manners. Do you not wash up before dinner? Or is that something that only wealthy people do nowadays?” He simpered. 

Avid worked his jaw. He wants to punch Scott square in the face, but then Scott would kick him out, and he would never be able to get any information out of him. “I do,” he admitted, his voice carefully measured. “But only when I’m eating with humans.” He added, just to get on Scott’s nerves.

Scott tilted his head. “But you’re not a human anymore, Avid. And it’s rude to not wash up for polite company.” He looked away, like he was bored with the conversation. “Besides, I need time to fix our meal, and I’m sure you’d love to take a warm bath for once.” 

Avid reared his head back. Anger flared in his chest. “Drift and I have a bath.” 

Scott’s mouth curled up. “And I bet it’s nowhere near as good as mine,” he smirked. He pulled away from Avid and walked towards a door that Avid didn’t notice before on the other side of the room. “Come on, I’m sure you’d finally like to be clean and relax in some hot water.” 

Avid weighed the pros and cons again before he sighed. He supposed he could play along for now, especially if he could get good information out of Scott later. “Alright.” He agreed. 

Scott grinned. His fangs were bright white and sharp, like needles. “Perfect! Right this way.” He ushered Avid through. 

On the other side of the door was an unfinished room, the walls made of stone. It lacked a ceiling, exposed to the bright late morning. A spiral stone staircase in the center of the room twisted down into the earth. “Come on,” Scott coaxed, and set off for the stairs. He ignored the soft sizzle of his flesh as he stepped into the sunlight. Avid heaved a sigh and forced himself to follow. 

Down they went, until the staircase ended in a long hallway. It reminded Avid of the crypts he would find when he searched for tomes. Then again, he supposed this was Scott’s crypt.

“Don’t get lost, this place is like a maze,” Scott informed when they reached the end of the hall and turned, only to find another hall with rooms and more hallways branched off. One room was closed off. A wooden sign inscribed with “Shelby’s Room” hung above the door. Avid’s heart panged with grief when he saw it, but Scott kept walking, so Avid didn’t stop. They moved on, through a series of halls and past more stone rooms, until they reached a door. Scott twisted the knob and pushed it open. Avid peered over his shoulder. 

It was a very large and ornate bathroom. The floor was made of white ceramic tiles that were painted with a pink flower motif and gold accents. A golden chandelier hung from the ceiling, decorated with strings of crystals that refracted beams of rainbows on the smooth walls. Avid took in the space. There was a toilet on the left wall, a sink opposite of it. A large mirror hung above the sink, which was very ironic. In the back right corner stood a massive clawfoot bathtub and a golden towel stand. White towels hung from the stand, ready to be used. 

“Soap is under the sink, and my closet is just right across the hall,” Scott directed casually while Avid shut his gaping mouth. “I’m sure I have something that would fit your style.” 

It took Avid a second to stop being overwhelmed by the glorious bathroom to realize what Scott said. “What’s wrong with what I’ve got on?” He challenged. 

Scott rolled his eyes dramatically. “Haven’t I already said you look like you shop at Peasants-R-Us?” He asked. He swept his gaze up and down and snorted. “What you’re wearing is an affront to most members of polite society. You should bare minimum wear something clean when someone invites you to a meal.”

Avid’s mouth twisted with anger. “I don’t want to wear one of your stupid cravats,” he fumed. 

Scott snickered. “Then don’t,” he said lackadaisically. “I don’t care. Just stop tracking dust and dirt through my home. It’s rude.” 

Avid grumbled. “Just let me take my bath in peace,” he said begrudgingly. He couldn’t deny that he wasn’t sure when he washed his clothes last, but he was too proud to say that to Scott.

Scott grinned victoriously. “I’ll get started on our meal,” he said, and then Avid stood alone in the bathroom, the door closed behind him. 

Scott had a lot of fancy soaps. They were all scented, but the fragrances didn’t overwhelm his sensitive nose. Scott must have carefully curated his collection over the centuries. He chose two that are the least offensive— one that smelled of vanilla, and another that smelled of roses— and turned the water on in the bath. 

He isn’t sure how Scott had access to hot water, but once it warmed enough to be sufficient, Avid plugged the drain so that the basin would fill. While he waited for the water, he unlaced his boots and stripped off his shirt and pants. He became aware for the first time in a long time of the dirt and grime caked into his skin, hair, and nails. He felt dirty and oily from days of trekking through the woods. Bathing had slipped his mind when the reality of vampires and his own declining health took up the forefront. He desperately needed a hot bath.

He stopped the water when it was close to spilling over the rim, and slowly stepped into the tub. It took him a few minutes to get settled and adjust to the hot water, but finally he was able to recline. He felt his muscles relax for the first time in weeks. 

He washed himself with care and took his time to scrub his scalp with the rose soap. The room fogged up with steam. He stayed in the tub after he was done scrubbing his skin raw, just to enjoy the warmth. Scott was an asshole, he mused, but also kind in his own unique way. He scooped up some foam from the surface of the water and blew the bubbles into the air. Scott clearly had some ulterior motive more than just trying to convince Avid that they weren’t so different. Avid just wasn’t sure what it was yet. 

He relaxed until the water turned too cold to ignore, and then he finally pulled the plug. He sat in the tub as the water drained, and only hauled himself out when his skin was completely exposed to the cold air. He had half the mind to fill up the tub with more hot water and sit in it forever, but he ignored the impulse and toweled off. He had a mission to accomplish, and he couldn’t afford to get distracted. 

Avid found a bathrobe next to the soaps under the sink, and wrapped himself up in it. It felt somehow less indecent than just walking across the hall in a towel. He opened the door to the bathroom and glanced up and down the hall. It was completely empty, and when he focused and extended his senses, he couldn't hear Scott anywhere nearby. He quickly darted across the hall, twisted the door to the closet open, and slammed it shut behind him. 

Scott’s closet was not as wide as his bathroom, but just as long, and also lit with a crystal chandelier. Avid couldn’t see the walls because they were completely obscured by hanging clothes. A tall white chest of drawers took up the back wall, complete with golden handles and painted gold accents. Avid glanced at all the hanging clothes. It seemed like everything Scott owned was black, red, grey, or some variation of off-white. 

All of the hanging clothes were also oddly feminine. A lot of them were pushed so close together that Avid can’t discern them individually, but he noticed skirts, dresses, and very frilly blouses. He frowned, and beelined for the chest of drawers. Perhaps Scott kept his more masculine clothes in there? He opened the top drawer, and was immediately greeted by a pair of cream silk panties, matching lace garters, and thin stockings. He slammed the drawer shut. 

Oh my god, he thought. Did Scott wear clothes like that? He shook his head to clear it, but he couldn't get the image out of his mind.

He bit his lip, and decided to try the next drawer. He discovered some kind of silk dress that was also clearly supposed to be some sort of lingerie, although not as scandalous as the panties and garters. He quickly moved on. The third drawer was filled with racy panties made of thin mesh and lace. He didn’t even try the fourth or the fifth drawers. 

He buried his face in his hands and groaned. Did Scott not own any pants other than what he was wearing? He had to, but Avid couldn’t find them anywhere. He peered through his fingers. Did Scott purposely guide him to this closet in a weird, fucked up mind game? Or was it a mistake? 

Mistake or intentional, Avid refused to wear anything in this room. He hurried back towards the door and reached out to grab the handle when he remembered the long, confusing hallways he traipsed through just to get to the bathroom. He could barely remember how to find his way back to the dining room. He’d have to stumble down the cold stone halls of the crypt, barefoot and wrapped in nothing but a bathrobe to protect his modesty, and what if he ran into Scott? He pulled his hand away from the door. He’d rather die than have to endure the embarrassment.

He looked around the room, determined. He’d have to make do. He began to flick through the hanging items of clothing, and quickly skimmed past busty corsets, satin girdles, and brassieres that left nothing to the imagination. Whenever he did find actual clothes, they were all daring, complete with lace and silk and ribbon bows. Nothing that Scott owned, it seemed, was appropriate. 

Avid finally settled on a frilly blouse and a red woolen skirt, which was thankfully plain and floor length, and probably the most modest item of clothing in the entire room. The blouse had long sleeves and covered his upper body from his neck down, and besides the lacy details, was fairly decent. He began to put the clothes on, but quickly realized that they weren’t lined, and the fabric scratched his skin. He was so uncomfortable that he took the blouse and skirt back off. 

He wrapped himself back in the bathrobe and wondered what to do before he remembered the silk dress in the second drawer. He supposed it had a more practical purpose than lingerie, right? It would probably feel a lot more comfortable against his skin than the woolen skirt and scratchy blouse. He opened the second drawer and rubbed the silk between his fingers. It felt soft, and slipped out of his hand like water. It would have to do. 

He pulled the slip over his head and let it fall. It clung to his hips and chest and stopped at his mid calf. The fabric was cool, and comfortable. He half wondered what he looked like, half didn’t want to see himself at all. He couldn’t, anyway, not with mirrors made of silver, but the curiosity still stuck in the back of his mind as he pulled back on the skirt and blouse. 

The only thing left was to cover his feet. He decided he was not going to wear the stockings he found, and instead rifled through the drawers until he found a pair of thick socks with lace around the edges. He delicately slipped them on, pleased to discover that they fit. He’d probably have to wear his same muddy boots, but at least the rest of him was clean, dry, and warm. 

He bolted back across the hall to the bathroom to slip on his boots. He glanced at the mirror, and paused when he saw a headless blouse and skirt. He twisted this way and that, and tried to imagine what he looked like in his head. The cinched waistline created a curvy hourglass figure, and the lacy details on his blouse accentuated his chest to look like an actual bust. The body in the mirror belonged to a woman, not Avid. 

The thought made him want to vomit, so he turned away. He could already imagine Scott’s amused reaction, but he’d rather wear this than a bathrobe. It would have to do. He clenched his fists and relaxed them in an effort to calm down. He squeezed his eyes shut, counted to ten, and then forced himself to leave the bathroom. 

Avid’s steps echoed in the empty halls. He hugged the wall and took right turns until he finally found the spiral staircase. He heaved a sigh in relief, picked up the hem of his skirt, and began his climb. When he emerged into the sunlight, he headed back to the dining room. Maybe he could beat Scott to the dining room table and tuck his legs underneath so Scott wouldn’t notice his skirt.

He had no such luck. When he pushed the wooden door to the dining room open, Scott stood at the table. He glanced up when Avid arrived, and then took a double take. “You know, I didn’t think you’d use my closet to experiment with your style, but I’m supportive. You look good.” 

Avid scowled. “This isn’t intentional, you ass. There was nothing appropriate to wear in that closet besides this.”

Scott’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and then his mouth quivered in amusement. “Ah, that’s my fault. I forgot I put all of my feminine clothes in that closet. That’s my mistake.” He waved a hand. “But still, you found something to wear that’s good quality, even though you’re still trekking mud through my halls.” 

Avid grinded his teeth. “I couldn’t find any shoes.” 

Scott smiled indulgently. “I can lend you a pair of slippers that will match your clothes.” 

Avid considered running through the woods in slippers. “I’ll pass,” he said evenly. 

Scott’s smile sharpened. “Please, I insist. I’d prefer it if you didn’t dirty my floors any more.” 

Avid’s scowl deepened. “If the floors were dirty already from my boots, won't I just make your slippers dirty too?” He reasoned. 

“I’d still rather you not wear your boots.” Scott remained firm, his smile unwavering. 

Avid folded his arms over his chest. “Fine. But I want all of my clothes back before I leave.”

Scott barked out a laugh. “Oh, you’re more than welcome to have them back.” Before Avid could feel offended, Scott left Avid standing in the dining room to stew in his fury.

Scott had already put out two place settings, one at the head of the table and next to it. There were two thin china plates at each setting, some kind of raw, red meat patty on each plate, and a perfectly round egg yolk on top of the meat. Next to each plate was gold silverware wrapped in a napkin and a goblet that was probably worth more than everything Avid owned. Between the settings was a tall dark bottle of what Avid assumed to be red wine. He picked up the bottle and inspected it. It had no label or discernible marks. 

Scott came back into the room. He carried a pair of velvet red slippers that looked like ballet flats. “Here,” he said, and Avid held out his hand to take the flats from Scott, but Scott moved his arm to hold them out of his reach. “Sit down,” he commanded. Avid rolled his eyes and sat down in the chair to the right of the head of the table with a huff. 

He didn’t piece together what Scott was doing until Scott got on one knee. “What are you doing?” He shrieked and tucked his feet under the chair. 

Scott arched an eyebrow. “What does it look like I’m doing?” He held out a hand. “Give me your foot.”

Avid shook his head. He pressed his lips together in a thin line. “No, no, I’ll put them on myself.” He protested. 

Scott fixed him with a cold look. “I’m sure you remember what I said earlier about being grateful. I'm a good host. You should be thankful.” He curled his fingers in a ‘gimme’ motion. “Let me take them off.” 

Avid wished he could escape his embarrassment, but Scott’s body blocked any way forward. Shame burned through him. He’d rather run back to town and deal with the townsfolk’s questions about his clothing than sit here and be subjected to Scott’s humiliation ritual, but he had no choice. 

Elle. He had to do this for Elle. He dug his fingers into the wooden armrests of the chair and winced when he heard an ominous creak. Scott stared at him with an indiscernible gaze. He needed to get this over with.

He grumbled as he lifted up his foot. Scott caught his heel and held his leg steady. “Ah, so you do know how to behave,” he mocked. 

Rage sparked in Avid’s chest. Words bubbled in his throat, but he forced himself to swallow them back. Scott hummed to himself as he rested Avid’s heel on his thigh and pulled the laces through each eyelet one by one. It was a delicate and torturous process that Avid couldn’t look away from until Scott slipped the boot off. Avid flexed his sock-covered foot and stared pointedly at a spot on the wall. 

Scott grabbed his heel and guided his foot into the velvet slipper. Avid ignored him until Scott’s other hand slid up over the ruffle of Avid’s sock to rest on his bare calf. His grip was gentle, like Avid was so delicate he could break, as he tested and made sure the slipper was on snugly. Finally, he let go of the back of Avid’s heel, and gently guided his foot back down to the ground. 

Avid had never felt so angry and oddly flustered in his life. Scott smiled charmingly at him. “Now for the other foot.” He prompted, and Avid put his other heel on Scott’s thigh and looked back at the wall so he wouldn’t have to watch. 

Scott leisurely untied his other boot and slid on the velvet slipper, although this time, Avid was sure Scott purposely rubbed circles into the meat of his calf with his thumb. The touch sent sparks of electric heat up to his groin, and Avid was suddenly uncomfortably aware of the fact he wasn’t wearing anything under the slip. He squeezed his eyes shut. He knew for a fact now that Scott was toying with him, but he wasn’t sure what Scott’s endgame was. 

After Scott pulled the slipper over his heel, Avid blinked his eyes open, but Scott didn’t let go. “Look at me,” he requested. His tone was so soft and unexpected, Avid obeyed without thinking. He turned his head to blink at him. 

Scott was still holding his foot and smiling at him, but his eyes were half lidded and staring unmistakably into Avid’s own. His gaze was smoldering, red eyes dark and alluring. He looked like a predator seducing its prey. Avid gulped. Scott didn’t look away as he lifted Avid’s foot up, leaned down, and pressed a butterfly kiss to Avid’s ankle. 

Avid jerked in Scott’s grip. He would have easily kicked Scott in the jaw, if Scott didn’t hold his foot steady like a vise. “Ooo-kaay! Um,” he laughed nervously. “Thanks for helping me put on my slippers, but I’m good now!” 

Scott grinned wryly but let go. He dusted off his pants as he rose up to stand. “You’re welcome,” he replied steadily, like that didn’t just happen. “Now, for our meal,” he continued as he pulled out the chair at the head of the table and took a seat. “I’m sure you’ve never had this before. This is a dish I learned centuries ago called steak tartare. It’s a raw beef dish that I seasoned and served with capers, parsley, and an egg yolk. I quite enjoyed it when I was a human, but I enjoy it even more now that I’m a vampire.” He commented as he unrolled his silverware and placed his napkin in his lap. 

Avid scrambled to turn his chair back towards the table and cover his lap with his napkin. “It’s a dish that is commonly attributed to French cuisine, but variations of it are found all over the world.” Scott added. He set his fork and knife next to his plate before he reached over the table to grab the bottle. “Wine?” 

“Uh,” Avid answered eloquently. “What is it?” 

“It’s a red blend I had made some centuries ago,” Scott responded as he pulled out the cork with a soft pop. “It’s mixed with blood, and it has aged for some time now, so it’s very good.” He casually took a swig straight from the bottle. Avid stared in shock. Did the nobility do that too? “Want some?” He offered as he licked the red liquid off his lips. 

Avid glanced at his empty goblet to avoid staring at Scott’s lips. “Sure?” He agreed without thinking, and passed the goblet over to Scott so he could pour the wine. “What does alcohol do to us?” 

“Not much,” Scott grunted as he poured until the goblet was three quarters full. Avid took a sip, and was surprised to find it sweet and full bodied. “I’m sure you’ve realized by now that we don’t need to do many things anymore. We can go centuries without sleeping unless we drain ourselves of most of our power. We don’t need to stay hydrated, and we can’t get drunk, just mildly tipsy if we try hard enough.” He filled his own goblet to the top. “We don’t get sick or hungover, we don’t forget things, and our bodies stay in our prime. We’re just better.”

Avid frowned. “But we have to feed,” he objected. Scott began to cut into his steak tartare. The egg yolk spilled down onto his plate. “Even if we don’t feed from humans, we have to kill so many animals just to sate our hunger. It’s unsustainable.” 

Scott looked pointedly at Avid’s plate, and Avid took that as his queue to cut into his steak. Scott took a bite of his own meal with a hum. “Growing plants is also unsustainable,” he demurred calmly. “Fruits and vegetables deplete the soil of nutrients to grow. Most farmers have to rotate crops, and add more nutrients back into the ground to ensure they have a harvest. Sometimes, they have to let the earth fallow for a year, just to make sure it stays fertile.” He met Avid’s gaze. “Being alive is unsustainable. We’re all parasitic. Besides, the only difference is now you can skip the process of cooking your meat before you eat it. I’d argue that being a vampire is just the same as being human, except you’re saving time and you have powers.” 

Avid took a bite of his steak. The meat was chewy, and the flavor of the blood and seasonings burst on his tongue. Scott is a good cook, he thought begrudgingly. “But you’ve eaten from humans before,” he pointed out after he swallowed. “And turned them. You chose to do that.”

Scott covered his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. “I did,” he confirmed when his mouth was clear. “But it was a different time. The social class structure is not as rigid now as it was back then.” He took a sip of his wine. “I’ve had lots of discussions with Shelby about this. It wasn’t right for me to drink from all those people, and Shelby helped me see that.” He said sincerely. 

Avid frowned, and took another bite of his steak tartare. He wasn’t sure he believed that. “And what about turning everyone?” He asked with his mouth full, just to piss Scott off. 

Scott grimaced, and then tried his best to turn it into a smile. He weakly succeeded. “Some of those I have turned have benefited. Shelby told me you were sick, and now you are well.” His smile became genuine and satisfied. “Shelby enjoys being a vampire. So does Pyro.” 

“And what about Cleo, and Drift, and the doctor? Apo didn’t want to be a vampire. They told us as much when we chased them out of town. They wanted to be human as long as possible.” He stared at the wood grain on the table. “I wanted to too.” 

Scott tilted his head imploringly. “You mistake community for humanity,” he corrected. “You feel loyal to them because they are your friends. So did Apo, before you chased her out.” He took another sip of his wine. “You feel like being a vampire is the same as being a monster, but you aren’t a monster.” 

Avid shook his head grimly. “We all want a cure. The second that we can find a way to make one, we’ll take it.” 

“But you haven’t found a way to make one yet,” Scott stressed. He took another bite of his meal. “And, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were being led around by the nose.”

The concept was so far out of left field that Avid almost dropped his fork and knife. “What?! What do you mean, being led around by the nose?!” Avid squawked. 

Scott smiled placidly. “I mean that there’s a good chance that someone is writing fiction. Are you sure you’re not finding manuscripts that were written 200 years ago by some imaginative townsperson?” He waved his hand. “Perhaps you should talk to that writer in Oakhurst? Or show them to Shelby, she’s read a lot of fanfiction.”

Avid’s mouth gaped like a fish. “But— I’ve read it. It’s real.”

Scott rolled his eyes and finished off his wine. “You’ve read about vials of blood and sires, just with a lot of flowery words. It’s Vampires 101. And in all my years being undead, I have never heard of a cure.”

Avid felt numb. “Eat your meal,” Scott gently reminded, and Avid obediently took another bite. It tasted like ash on his tongue. 

Avid tried another angle. “Who was your sire?” 

“Does it matter? I haven’t seen him in… eight hundred years?” Scott shrugged. “I have no idea if he’s alive or not. And, honestly, I don’t really care.” He gestured around the room with his fork. “We have a good thing going here. A family. We’re just trying to survive.”

“Owen chased Drift and I through the woods yesterday. You wore a skeleton mask to terrorize me on purpose. I wouldn’t call that just trying to survive.”

Scott fixed him with a cold glare. “Let’s not forget all of the things you have done. You accused me of murder and kicked Owen and I out of the town. You burned down Shelby and I’s house. You got everyone wound up. And you get in a twist whenever someone willfully consents to becoming a vampire!” He slammed his fork down on the table. His voice rose to a shout. “You’ve made us out to be demons, because you can’t accept the fact that we might just be normal people. If it weren’t for you, the people of Oakhurst wouldn’t be out to get us!”

Avid flared his nostrils. “But you’ve turned people—“

“You can’t blame me for not wanting to be alone!” Scott yelled as he gestured wildly. “I’m trying to build a family. You cling to them so desperately because you want a community, but you can’t see the community that’s right here!” He jammed his fingers against the table. “You’d be welcome here, with open arms. We’d never make you pretend to be someone that you’re not. You wouldn’t have to lie anymore, like you do in the village. You’d be able to see Shelby, and we’d take care of you, because we’re a family. You’d never want for anything.”

Avid couldn’t handle the tension in the room. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” he whispered. He couldn’t meet Scott‘s gaze. 

He heard Scott sigh, pour himself more wine, and down it all. Avid pushed the remains of his steak tartare around his plate. “Would you like some more wine?” Scott offered quietly. Avid shook his head. 

Scott collected himself. “I apologize. I should not have lost my temper.” Avid peered up at him through his lashes. “Ask me— ask me whatever you’d like. It’s only fair.” 

Avid mulled over his thoughts. He had one opportunity, and he had to use it wisely. “Do… you know anything about… other creatures?” 

Scott furrowed his brows in confusion. “What do you mean?” 

Avid straightened in his chair. “My best friend, she was bitten. I assumed it was by a vampire, because we were trying to… do research on vampires. She turned, and tried to attack me. I had to defend myself.” He looked away as he blinked back tears. He took a second to regain his composure. “Now, I’m doubting that it was a vampire who bit her.” 

Scott looked away as he thought. “I’m not sure. I’m not really the best person to ask. I probably can find some answers in my library.” 

Avid’s eyes widened. “You have a library?”

Scott grinned. “Of course I have a library. I’ve been alive for over a thousand years, but knowledge has always been important to me.” He said with flourish.

“Can we go take a look?” Avid asked as he leaned against the table. 

Scott pushed his chair away from the table, and put his napkin on top of his plate. “Come on, I’ll show you.” He rose up to stand. Avid eagerly followed suit, and pushed himself away from the table. They were interrupted by a loud, creaking groan. 

Avid turned to the source of the noise. Owen stood in front of them, and blinked at the both of them as the wooden door swung shut. “You’re… here.” Owen acknowledged Avid with a nod. “And… wearing a skirt?”

Avid felt embarrassment burn through him. He opened his mouth, but Scott cut him off. “You’re back earlier than I thought.”

Owen turned back to Scott. “Yeah. I kept busy for a while, though.” He scratched his head. “Am I interrupting?” 

“No, no.” Scott said. He gestured for Owen to come closer. “We were just about to go to the library downstairs. Would you like to tag along?” 

Owen glanced from Scott to Avid, and then back to Scott. “Sure.” He looked at Avid. “You don’t mind, do you?” 

Avid looked at Scott, and then at Owen. He remembered Owen’s threat to slaughter everyone in the town, and their chase through the woods the day prior. He was briefly surprised that Owen hadn’t immediately tried to kill him where he stood, and then he remembered that he was no longer a weak human. Owen could probably still kill him, but would he? Was Avid protected as Scott’s guest?

Either way, Avid had to play nice. “Uh, no! I don’t mind. It’s your house— err, castle, too.” He laughed awkwardly. 

Scott smiled at Owen. “See? He doesn’t mind. Now, let’s go.” He said, and turned to the door. Avid hurried to catch up. 

“Seriously, why are you wearing a skirt?” Owen mumbled to Avid as he took up the rear. The three of them descended down the spiral staircase. Avid hiked up his skirt again to avoid tripping. “I mean, you look great in it, I’m just wondering why.”

“There was a miscommunication,” Scott answered for Avid with a wave of his hand. He glanced over his shoulder. “Although, doesn’t he look so cute?” 

“Like a doll,” Owen agreed. “A very pretty girl.” 

“I’m not a girl,” Avid snapped. He fisted the fabric of his skirt with his fingers.

“A very pretty boy, then.” Scott amended. “You should wear pretty clothes more often. You have a gorgeous figure.” 

Avid was beginning to feel more and more flustered. “Mmm, you’re right, he does.” Owen added behind him, and Avid wondered if Owen might be checking out his ‘gorgeous figure.’ “Have you ever tried experimenting with fashion? I bet you’d look stunning in stays and a dress.”

“And stockings,” Scott tacked on. 

“And stockings,” Owen agreed sagely. “Would you let us do that later? Dress you up like our pretty little doll?” 

Avid held his skirt with one hand and pressed his other hand to face. If he were still human, his cheeks would be on fire. His skin was cool to the touch, but the gesture helped him calm down. “I— Library! Library first,” he spluttered. 

Scott paused on the step. Avid almost bumped into him, but caught himself in time. “You promise?” He leered up at Avid with a smirk. 

Avid froze. He was hyper aware of Owen looming behind him. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Owen purred, his voice dangerously close to Avid’s ear. 

Avid was trapped, caught between two hungry predators. “I, um,” he whispered. His tongue felt like cotton in his mouth. Scott’s eyes glittered in the dim lighting. He could make out Owen in his peripherals, watching the side of Avid’s face to catch his expressions. 

Scott suddenly grinned boyishly. “I’m joking!” He exclaimed, mirth dancing in his eyes. “Right, Owen?” 

“Right,” Owen monotoned. Avid briefly wondered if this was just an average conversation for them, considering how blasé they were behaving. Scott turned and kept walking down the stairs like the last ten seconds didn’t happen, so maybe it was completely normal. 

“I’d keep going if I were you.” Owen muttered in his ear. Avid raced down the steps, and heard Scott chuckle under his breath when he caught up. 

The rest of the walk down into the crypt was in relative silence. Avid recognized that Scott was leading them down a different path this time. They passed several shallow nooks and crannies carved into the wall. Avid peered at them curiously, but saw only lanterns and white shards of bones. 

As they walked, Avid replayed their interaction on the stairs in the back in his mind. Scott was definitely flirting with him, but Owen? He couldn’t imagine Owen deigning to do anything to Avid other than slay him where he stood. But still, Owen seemed legitimately interested in… dressing Avid up. Avid’s overactive imagination briefly flashed to a scene where all three of them stood in Scott’s closet, except Scott had convinced Avid to try on a revealing dress, and Avid shyly twirled for them while Scott and Owen stared with blatant want.

The mental imagery was so appealing that Avid had to think about something else before Scott or Owen somehow sensed his desire. Owen surely wasn’t actually interested in Avid. There was too much bad blood (hah) in between them. No, what Owen probably wanted was some type of control over Avid. 

Although, the idea of Owen telling him what to do, dominating him, forcing Avid to obey— 

… He had to think about something else. His eyes roamed the walls, searching for something, anything, to distract his brain.

Then, he saw his opportunity. Scott walked past a wooden door in the wall, but Avid stopped in his tracks. “What’s in here?” He pointed at the opening. It was the first door he had seen in a while, and it looked out of place compared to the endless nooks filled with skulls. He could see something glowing underneath the door. 

“Oh, that’s uh,” Owen began, but Avid was already pushing the door open. Beyond the door was a room, albeit a crudely built one. The walls and floors consisted of a mishmash of dark bricks and grey stone. The room was bare of any furniture, except for the bed pressed up against the wall and the nightstand next to it. Someone had placed candles on the nightstand and lit them to cast a warm, gentle glow throughout the room. It was very obviously someone’s rudimentary bedroom. 

He heard shuffling behind him as Owen and Scott followed him through. “I thought you guys don’t need to sleep?” Avid pondered as he stared at the bed in confusion. 

“We don’t.” Scott confirmed. Owen shot him a look that Avid couldn’t decipher. 

“So… is this the bed you slept in, Scott? When you fell asleep for six hundred years?” 

Scott barked out a laugh. “No, they put me in a coffin. It was quite rude.” 

Avid glanced at the two of them. Owen kept looking between the bed, Scott, and Avid like he wasn’t sure what to do. Scott had his arms clasped behind his back and was watching Avid’s face with an easy smile. “Do you guys have bedrooms?” Avid asked.

Owen gave Scott an incredulous look. Scott communicated something back to him with his eyes. “We do enjoy some of the leisures that come with having a bed.” He answered cryptically, although his tone was still friendly. 

Avid glanced back at the bed. “Riiiiiight.” He looked away from the obvious elephant in the room. He had no idea what Scott and Owen were dancing around, but it probably wasn’t his place to ask. “Library?”

“Right this way.” Scott directed, and they all stepped back out of the room. 

Avid followed Scott deeper into the bowels of the crypt. They eventually stopped in front of an old oak door with a golden handle and keyhole. Scott pulled out a golden key from his pocket, slid it into the hole, and twisted until they heard a click. The door eased open. 

Avid gaped at the room. It was covered floor to ceiling in books. Rows and rows of books— towering shelves of books, stacks of books on the floor that went up to Avid’s hips, books shoved into every single inch of space— illuminated by golden chandeliers that were dwarfed by the impressiveness of Scott’s library. He spied wooden ladders leaning against shelves to provide access all the way to the top. “Woah,” he breathed as he took in the enormity of the room.

Owen made a surprised sound behind him. “Wow. I’ve never been here before.” He commented. He walked up to a stack of books to inspect the cover of the one on top. “You have quite the impressive collection.” 

“Thanks!” Scott said brightly. “Now, what you’re looking for…” he trailed off. He paused in front of a shelf to inspect some books before he clicked his tongue and moved on. “It’s around here somewhere, one second.” 

Avid watched Scott scan each book quickly before moving on to the next. “Not to be rude,” Owen muttered as he leaned in close to speak quietly. “But why are you here?”

Avid looked up at him through his lashes. Owen was hot too, now that he thought about it. Maybe he had a thing for beautiful eyes and an accent. “Scott invited me over to talk.” 

“And talking somehow ended up with you in a skirt, eating at our dinner table?” Owen teased with a smirk. 

Avid laughed breathily. “It really was a miscommunication.” He subtly arched his back and tilted his head. “Scott accidentally directed me to the closet with all of the feminine clothes in it. There were a lot of… clothes I wouldn’t wear in public. These were the most appropriate things I could find.”

Owen hummed thoughtfully. “You’ll have to show me later.” He murmured as he eyed the line of Avid’s throat down to the gentle slope of his chest. His gaze felt weighted, and it pinned Avid in place. 

Avid squeezed his thighs together. 

“Glad to see you two are getting along without me.” Scott reannounced his presence with a stack of books in his arms. Avid quickly turned away from Owen like he had been burned.

“We’re getting along swimmingly,” Owen agreed with a low chuckle. He was still too close, hovering behind Avid.

“I found these,” Scott sidled in close to show Avid the covers of the books. “I haven’t read these before, so I’m not sure how accurate the information is.” His face was tantalizingly close to Avid’s own. Avid could feel Scott’s eyes on the side of his face, his mouth close to Avid’s cheek. “But it’s a start.” 

Avid’s fingers paused over the cover of the book. He was hyperaware that he was currently sandwiched between two incredibly powerful and equally hot vampires. It felt surreal, considering the fact that just this morning, Avid wouldn’t be caught dead in their castle, this close to either of them, willingly. He swallowed and met Scott’s gaze. Scott’s irises were a rich, deep red. His lashes were so long they kissed the skin under his eyes when he blinked. His mouth was parted slightly, flushed pink from the red wine.

Avid squirmed. Scott shot him a fanged grin. “You know, I’ve got a great idea.” He suggested as he glanced past Avid to share a look with Owen. 

“Y-yeah?” Avid stuttered, turning his head to catch Owen’s smug smirk. A hand— Owen’s— smoothed down Avid’s side and lingered on his hip. The touch sent sparks through his veins. 

“You two need to talk.” Scott declared, and then turned to set down the books in his arms on top of a nearby pile of more books. The statement was so unexpected that Avid was momentarily stunned. 

“We do?” Owen asked, confusion in his voice. 

Scott nodded. “Avid and I have already had a lovely conversation. We have a deeper understanding of each other now.” He cut his eyes back to Avid, his gaze piercing. “You two, however, still have some unfinished business.” 

Avid opened his mouth to speak, but Owen beat him to the punch. “No thanks,” he drawled. Owen’s mouth brushed the side of Avid’s neck, featherlight and tempting. Avid gasped as heat raced down his spine. “I’d much rather do something else than talk.” 

Oh. Oh. Scott grinned, his mouth sharp and hungry. Need pooled in between Avid’s legs. Owen leaned in close, mouth centimeters from the shell of Avid’s ear. “Scott and I have been talking about this for a while,” he crooned. His grip tightened on Avid’s hip. “We want you.”

“We also want to put that bed to use.” Scott added. 

“And we can smell you.” Owen cooed. His other hand slipped up over Avid’s chest to cup his neck. Avid tilted his head back with ease. “We can smell how much we turn you on.” 

“So, what do you say?” Scott asked as he waggled his eyebrows. He stepped in close, inches away from Avid’s mouth. “Nothing happens without your permission.” 

Avid hesitated for a beat as he stared at Scott’s lips. He wanted Scott to kiss him like he meant it, and Owen to grab whatever softness he had left on his body. He wanted to fall into bed with both of them. 

Avid made up his mind. He surged forward and closed the gap. Scott tasted like sweet wine and blood. His mouth was soft yet unyielding, and he kissed Avid back like he wanted to devour him. Owen’s hand slid down to grasp his other hip, and he pulled Avid back so he could grind the hard bulge in his pants against his ass. Avid groaned into Scott’s mouth. 

Scott’s hands were on Avid’s waist. He slotted his thigh in between Avid’s legs, and Avid gasped at the delicious pressure against his clit. “Fuck,” he moaned. He broke the kiss to roll his hips and chase the pleasure. “Bed. Bed now,” he demanded, or else he’d beg them to fuck him on the floor.

Scott looked wild, victorious, like an animal with a kill. He raked a hand through his silver hair. “Come on. I’ll carry you.” His voice was husky with lust. 

Owen growled in Avid’s ear. “You already got to carry him. Let me do it this time.” He pulled Avid flush against his body and pressed his front to Avid’s back. 

Scott chortled. “Fine by me. You want Owen to carry you, sweetheart?” 

Avid nodded mutely. He was afraid if he opened his mouth, he’d moan wantonly. 

Owen spun him around so that they were facing each other and scooped him up. His thick, muscled arms supported Avid’s thighs. He grabbed Avid’s ass in both hands and shot him a toothy grin. “Can’t wait to get you under me, baby.” 

Scott snorted. “Let me say the cutesy pet names. I think you stick to calling him a needy slut.” 

Heat raced through Avid’s limbs. He gasped into Owen’s neck and grinded his cunt against the front of Owen’s pants. 

Owen groaned, a low sound that made Avid want. “You like that? You like being called a pretty whore?” He teased as he groped Avid’s ass and pulled him flush against his cock.

They both had too many clothes on. “Take it off,” Avid murmured. He tugged on Owen’s shirt. 

Scott made an affronted noise. He sounded further away, like he was standing near the door. “Not in my library, thank you. These books are older than Owen.” He clicked his tongue. “Bed, now.” 

“I’m getting there.” Owen said dryly, but in the blink of an eye, Owen had carried Avid into the bedroom. He gently lowered Avid on the bed. Scott stood between the bed and the door, and was pulling his cravat loose. 

Avid sat up on the bed and clumsily, impatiently, undid the buttons of his blouse. Owen had the same level of impatience and quickly stripped off his own clothes and boots and left them in a pile on the floor. Scott was more meticulous. He carefully undid the buttons on his wrists, and took his time to fold up each item of clothing and put it in a neat pile on the floor at the foot of the bed. 

Owen scowled at him. “If you could undress sometime today, that would be great.” 

Scott shot him a glare as he carefully stepped out of his pants. “Perfection takes time, thank you very much. I’m not wrinkling my clothes.” 

Avid chuckled quietly to himself as he slid off his skirt and kicked it off the bed. He sat on the bed in his slip dress. Owen was still in his underwear, so Avid sprawled out on the bed and decided to let Scott and Owen take the slip off of him instead of giving them a show. 

Owen raked his eyes over his body. His mouth curled lasciviously. “You’re gorgeous.” The praise sent butterflies to Avid’s stomach. “Wish we had gotten you into bed sooner,” Owen continued as he crawled up on the bed and held himself up over Avid’s body with his hands. He slot his thigh in between his legs. “I bet you make the prettiest noises when you come.” 

He pressed his knee against Avid’s cunt. Avid gasped and desperately bucked his hips to chase the friction. “You’re so wet.” Owen murmured. He leaned down to ghost his lips over Avid’s cheek and rolled his knee in circles to give Avid the sweet pressure he needed. “I want to taste you.” 

Owen’s mouth was so close to Avid’s own, but before he could surge up to kiss him, Avid heard a smack of skin against skin ring through the room. He jerked away and blinked up to see Scott, who was kneeling on the bed in his underwear and frowning down at them, his eyes possessive. “Move over.” He commanded. “I want my turn with him.” 

Owen huffed, but ignored Avid’s needy whine and pulled away. “Didn’t have to slap me,” he muttered.

Avid looked at Scott and raised his arms in a ‘gimme’ motion that made Scott laugh. “Come here.” Scott curled his finger. 

Avid was too turned on to argue. He surged up onto his knees and pressed his lips insistently to Scott’s. Scott purred into the kiss and tilted Avid’s jaw so he could kiss him deeply. His tongue worked magic in Avid’s mouth and teased him until he moaned and whined. 

Avid trembled when Owen’s hand slid up under the hem of his slip to caress the inside of his thigh. Owen made a surprised sound when he reached the apex of Avid’s legs and found bare, wet folds. “No underwear.” He mused aloud. He rubbed up and down Avid’s slit before he slid two fingers in to the second knuckle. 

Avid broke the kiss and moaned brokenly at the sudden stimulation. He squeezed his eyes shut, grinded down on Owen’s fingers, and whimpered as Owen scissored him open. When he blearily opened his eyes, Scott was watching him with a hungry gaze, drinking in his reactions. Scott pulled up Avid’s slip with one hand to just above Avid’s navel. With his other hand, he grabbed Avid’s jaw to hold his mouth open, slipped his thumb between Avid’s lips to gather up spit, and then let go so he could press his slick thumb to Avid’s clit and rub circles. 

“Fuck.” Avid rocked his hips down on their fingers. “Feels so good. I need more, please, please, please!”

“You’re a needy thing,” Scott swore. Owen slipped in a third finger. Avid made a face at the stretch, but the burst of pain soon faded and turned into pleasure. “I bet you wanted this all day. Only whores don’t wear panties. You’re going to take both of us in your sweet cunt, and then say thank you after.” 

Avid nodded dumbly and blinked tears out of his eyes when Scott slid in a finger as well. “Wanna be good for you,” he slurred. “Wanna make you come.” 

Owen chuckled darkly. Scott curled his finger inside of Avid’s pussy, and Avid moaned at the intense pleasure. “Don’t worry, baby.” Scott hummed as he focused on hitting that spot inside of Avid that made him shudder and writhe. “I think you’ll be just perfect.”

Scott pulled his hand away suddenly. Avid squeaked at the sudden lack of stimulation on his clit, and whined when Owen pulled his fingers out too. Avid opened his mouth to mewl pathetically from emptiness, but was quickly distracted when Scott pulled off his underwear. 

Avid’s eyes widened. Scott’s cock bobbed and stood to attention. It was long, pale, uncut, curved, and flushed pink at the tip. His balls hung fat and heavy, ready to shoot his come deep inside Avid and paint his walls white. Avid wanted it in his mouth, wanted to slobber all over his dick and balls. He wanted to worship Scott’s cock. 

“You ready?” Owen questioned in a low tone. Avid turned his head to see that Owen had stripped off his underwear too, and was slowly rubbing his cock to build his erection to full mast. Owen’s cock was thick, cut, tan, and shorter than Scott’s, but Avid was immediately certain it would stretch his pussy deliciously. 

“How are we doing this?” Avid asked as he eyed both of their cocks with perverse fascination. “Like, what position?”

Scott shrugged. “I get on the bed, you ride me, Owen slides in from the back.” 

“Sounds good,” Owen confirmed, like it was that easy. 

Scott began to shuffle on the bed. “Wait, wait, wait,” Avid held out his hands. “Are you both… going in one hole?” 

“That’s the goal.” Owen said. He glanced at Scott, who nodded. “Is that okay?” He asked. 

Avid looked from Owen to Scott, who was lying languidly on the bed and getting comfortable. He looked like a painting of a young god. Or perhaps one of those beautiful marble sculptures, Michelangelo’s Bacchus or Apollo. 

Avid sucked in a breath. He looked back at Owen, who was watching him, his eyes large and dancing in the flickering flame. His gaze was intense, his hair askew, a modern day The Fallen Angel. Avid had no idea how he resisted either of them for as long as he did.

Owen cocked an eyebrow expectedly. Avid sucked in a breath. “Right. Yeah, it’s fine. I want it.” He confirmed, and then swallowed. “Do we have oil? Lube? Something?” He asked Scott. 

“Ah, let me see.” Scott reached over the edge of the bed and groped for something underneath. “You should get naked too.” 

“Oh, right.” Avid reached down to pull up the hem of his slip, but Owen slid his hands teasingly up the sides of Avid’s thighs and offered him a gentle smile as he gently slipped the fabric up and over his head. “Thanks,” Avid said quietly as Owen let the slip fall to the floor. Owen hummed, grabbed Avid’s hips, and pressed the softest, barely-there kiss to his shoulder. 

“I’m glad I had the foresight to think of this.” Scott grunted as he pulled out a bottle from under the bed. It had a metal spout at the top, and Avid watched as Scott poured some of the bottle’s contents onto his hands, and a clear, watery liquid poured out. “It’s lube.” He rubbed it together with his fingers. 

“Uh, what is it made out of, exactly?” Owen interjected. He studied the substance with an arched eyebrow. 

Scott snorted, and covered his cock with the substance. “Aloe vera and water? I don’t know, I had some servants make it for me ages ago.” 

Owen muttered something about six hundred year old lube that Avid didn’t catch, but took the bottle when Scott offered it. Scott spread his legs apart. “Come here. Don’t be shy.” He teased Avid, who pouted as he shuffled forward on his knees.

“Get comfortable,” Scott advised as Avid settled himself around Scott’s hips and grabbed the headboard for support. He squeaked when Scott began to rub his clit. His fingers glided over Avid’s sensitive nub. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been this wet in his life.

Avid adjusted his grip on the headboard, moved his hips until his slit was right over the head of Scott’s cock, and then nodded. “Okay, I’m ready.” 

“Just relax.” Scott murmured, and there was a bit where Avid lowered his hips and Scott had to guide his cock up into his hole, but after the slightest bit of pressure, Scott slid inside. Avid moaned quietly and clenched around the sudden intrusion. He began to work his hips down and slowly took more and more of Scott’s cock until he bottomed out completely. 

Avid forced himself to relax and rocked his hips to test the angle. He had to shuffle again to get it just right, but when he sank back down, it felt like heaven. “Oh, fuck.” He tipped his head up to the ceiling as he rolled his hips again, and then again, addicted to the sweet pleasure.

Scott held Avid’s hips down to keep him in place. “Hold on,” he said with a chuckle and cast a look back at Owen. “We have to let Owen in on the action too.” 

“Right,” Avid said, suddenly aware how this could go wrong. “How should I…?” He trailed off, not sure what to ask exactly, but he hoped they understood. 

“Just stay like that, keep your hands on the headboard.” Owen directed. Avid could feel Owen kneel behind him, find space for his legs and knees amidst their tangle of limbs, and wrap his arms around Avid’s middle. Owen leaned in, pressed a kiss to the back of Avid’s neck, and then the head of Owen’s cock poked against his perineum.

“Wait,” Avid said as his anxiety got the best of him. “I don’t know if it’s going to fit.” 

Owen paused, and then reached down and slid two fingers inside of Avid’s cunt. Combined with Scott’s cock, it was a foreign sensation, but not unwelcome. “Does that hurt?”

Avid shook his head meekly. “Just stay relaxed.” Scott reached up to rub Avid’s shoulders. “Trust us. We don’t want to hurt you.” 

Avid took a deep breath to feel better, and then nodded and closed his eyes. “I trust you.” He said in a small voice. Owen pulled his fingers out of Avid’s hole, and grabbed his waist again. There was a beat, and then Avid’s mouth dropped open as his hole stretched to make room for Owen’s cock. 

It was intense, and so much unlike anything Avid had ever felt before. He trembled with exertion. Moans and whimpers fell unbidden from his lips as Owen slowly, carefully, bottomed out. He was so consumed with the feedback of pain and pleasure, of pain turning into pleasure, he lost track of everything else. It took him several seconds to notice the drool escaping from his lips, and the splintered headboard he had broken.

“Jesus,” Scott muttered, which would have been funny to Avid in any other context. “Are you okay?” He rubbed Avid’s hip reassuringly. 

Avid wiped his mouth. “Yeah,” he croaked. He felt fucked out already, and Owen hadn’t even moved yet. He adjusted his grip on the headboard. “Can you… can you move?” He asked shyly.

Scott looked over Avid’s shoulder at Owen. Avid couldn’t see the face Owen made, but there’s a moment where Owen drew his hips back, and then thrusted back in while Scott rolled his hips up. Avid moaned so loud that he was thankful that Shelby and Pyro weren’t around, or else they would have definitely heard him.

“Oh, fuck,” Owen grunted. He thrusted into Avid’s cunt again. Scott followed a half second later. The pain of the stretch was easily overwhelmed by tingly pleasure that sent sparks of electricity every time they thrust in. 

“You’re really tight.” Scott added. He timed his pace to match Owen’s. Avid squeezed his eyes shut and saw stars behind his eyelids. 

They built a rhythm. Each rock of their hips made Avid moan like a well-paid whore. He was helpless to do anything but hold on to the headboard, until he decided to move his own hips back in time with their thrusts. Their cocks bumped against the opening to his cervix. The dull ache made him feel claimed, possessed.

He couldn’t stop moaning even if he wanted to. When he tried to close his mouth to muffle his moans, Owen grabbed his jaw with one hand, twisted his head to the side, pried his lips open, and spat in his mouth. “Don’t be quiet,” he commanded as he fucked into Avid wildly. “We want to hear how good we make you feel.” Avid nodded dumbly, and swallowed Owen’s spit. He felt dirty and used.

“Tell me I’m good,” he begged. Scott’s pupils were blown wide with lust, his grip tight on Avid’s hips. “Tell me you love my pussy. I wanna be a good slut for you.”

Scott grinned with all teeth. “You’re perfect for us, baby.” He cooed condescendingly. He brushed Avid’s hair out of his face, then hooked his thumb into Avid’s mouth and pulled his mouth open. “You’re the prettiest whore I’ve ever had on my cock. You’re being so good for us, doing whatever we tell you to do. Maybe we should keep you in our castle. Put a collar on you, keep you on your knees, bend you over and fuck your cunt silly whenever and wherever we want. Would you like that?”

Avid got so turned on by the idea, he almost blacked out. “Want it, want it so bad, please please please!”

Scott reached down and rubbed harshly at Avid’s clit. “Then come,” he demanded darkly, and Avid doesn’t have time to think about it because his body immediately obeyed. He let out a long, high pitched sound and shook as he came. He was grateful to be holding on to the headboard, even if his grip was weak at best, because he almost slumped down on top of Scott. His ears rang, his brain shorted out, and his whole body felt warm and gooey as Scott and Owen fucked him through his orgasm. 

He floated on cloud nine, fucked stupid and caught up in his haze. He didn’t notice when Owen’s hips began to stutter, his thrusts desperate, but he did notice when Owen pressed his front to Avid’s back and moaned low in his ear. Avid shivered when he felt a strange, but not unwelcome, splash of heat coat his insides. He’d never had someone come inside of him before, but the knowledge that Owen just claimed him, coated his walls with his come to prove who Avid belonged to, made his horny brain feral.

When Scott came, he held Avid down, squeezed his eyes shut, and moaned. Avid could feel his cock flex and jerk inside of him as he shot burst after burst of come. Satisfaction glowed in Avid’s chest. He watched Scott through half lidded eyes as Scott’s face slackened, overcome with pleasure. 

They had a brief moment where they all relaxed and enjoyed their orgasms, then Owen slowly pulled out. Come rushed out of Avid’s hole, and Avid felt filthy. He whined at how empty he suddenly felt, but Scott shushed him. “Don’t worry baby,” Owen assured. He gave Avid’s butt a playful squeeze. “We’re not done with you yet.” 

Avid perked up. “You’re not?” He asked, excited. Even though he just came, he was still raring to go. 

Scott snorted. “Vampires don’t have a refractory period.” He informed. “We can go for as long as we want to, whenever we want to.” 

The knowledge made Avid’s eyebrows shoot up. “Oh.” The possibilities suddenly seemed endless. “Can we do it again, but in a different position?” 

“Sure.” Scott agreed. 

“Where do you want us?” Owen sat back on his heels. 

“Um,” Avid glanced around the bed. “Can one of you fuck me in doggy while the other fucks my mouth?” 

Scott looked at Owen. “I want his cunt.” 

Avid caught Owen’s expression. He was smiling, somewhat fondly, at Scott. “Is this because you’re older? Or because you said so.” 

Scott smirked. “Both.” 

Scott’s cockiness made Avid laugh. “That works for me,” he said, and swung his legs over Scott’s hips. He winced as Scott’s cock slipped out and their combined come spilled onto the bed. 

They took a minute to reposition themselves. Avid got on his hands and knees while Scott and Owen knelt on either side of him. Owen’s cock ended up right in his face, the pink head pearly and slick with come, and Avid couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward, gave the head of Owen’s cock a kittenish lick, and then wrapped his mouth around the tip and suckled. 

Owen gasped and carded his fingers through his hair, steadying himself as Avid teased his slit with his tongue. “Fuck, you’re a natural.” Owen moaned. He pushed the hair out of Avid’s eyes. 

Scott grabbed Avid’s hips impatiently. “I’d like to remind everyone who the oldest one here is,” he pouted, and wasted no time pushing in. Avid’s hole was loose and sloppy from their previous round, but Scott still slid in deep enough to feel good. 

Avid’s attention was torn between the two of them, so he did his best. He clenched down on Scott’s dick to make his pussy tighter while he hollowed out his cheeks and tried to take in as much of Owen’s cock as he could. Avid had to angle his head so he could get Owen’s cock to the back of his mouth with as little discomfort as possible, and even then, his jaw still tinged with pain. Avid refused to quit. He closed his eyes, flattened his tongue, and relaxed his throat. When Owen thrusted into his mouth, a minute movement of his hips, his cock slid past Avid’s mouth and into his throat.

“Holy shit. Your mouth is so slutty, I bet you feel empty without a cock in it.” Owen hissed. He kept Avid’s head still, so every time he thrusted in, Avid’s lips kissed the root of his cock. 

Scott fucked into Avid’s cunt. Avid could barely hear the squelch of his pussy over the horny chanting in his brain for more, more, more. Scott built up a good tempo. His balls slapped against Avid’s clit with every thrust, and Avid heard the bed creak beneath them.

Avid’s brain melted and leaked out of his ears. He was stuffed from both ends, and he couldn’t think. He moaned with pleasure, and Owen groaned as the vibrations teased his cock. He finally felt at ease, reduced to nothing but a toy, just holes for them to fuck. The outside world felt like light years away. 

He wanted to do whatever Scott and Owen told him to do. He wanted to bend over and take their cocks when they commanded him to. He wanted to jack them off with both of his hands and let them come on his tongue. He wanted to take one of their cocks in his ass, the other in his pussy, and let them stick their fingers in his mouth so that all of his holes were full. He didn’t care what position they were in, or who fucked who; he just wanted to be in this mindless state of pleasure forever, finally free of his worries and anxieties. 

He felt a strange pressure in his gut, like he was going to pee. He squeezed down on Scott’s cock, but Scott ignored him, reached down, and toyed with Avid’s abused clit. The pressure grew stronger. Avid tried to warn him, but it was too late. When he came, he squirted hard, and coated Scott’s cock and balls with his spend. He couldn’t stop himself as he gushed all over Scott’s cock. Scott slowed down his hips to help Avid ride through his orgasm.

“That was fucking hot.” Scott commented when Avid was finished. Avid was too out of it to respond. Tears streamed down his cheeks as Owen fucked his throat roughly and Scott started to build up speed, his thrusts hard and fast. Scott came next with a long groan. His balls flexed as he came and contributed to the mess of fluids in Avid’s hole. 

Owen had a vise-like grip on Avid’s hair. Each thrust crushed Avid’s nose to his pelvis. Just as Avid began to have the mental wherewithal to feel discomfort, Owen stuffed his cock deep into Avid’s throat and came. Avid gagged as Owen’s bitter come painted his throat and rushed down to his stomach. Owen kept Avid’s mouth firmly pressed against the base of his cock as he enjoyed his orgasm, but after Avid squirmed and pinched his thigh, he released Avid’s head. Avid pulled away and coughed. Some of Owen’s come spilled from his lips and stained the bedding. 

They each took a minute to gather themselves. “Want to go again?” Owen asked. His eyes were black with desire. 

“We can go all day,” Scott chuckled. “How do you feel, Avid?”

Avid definitely wanted to keep going. “Can we?” He rasped, his throat sore. 

Owen tilted Avid’s head up to look at him. “We can go for as long as you like.” He promised, and then pulled Avid up into a searing kiss. 

When he pulled away, Scott grabbed Avid and kissed him too. Avid felt dizzy between the two of them. Scott released him after a few seconds. “Where should we start?” 

As it turns out, vampires could go for hours.

Whenever Avid thought they were done with him, they would just switch positions. He laid on his back sideways on the bed while Scott fucked his throat and Owen kneeled on the floor to eat his cunt. He came three times on his back while he sucked Owen’s cock, Scott fingered his pussy, and Owen’s suckled on his clit. They made him lean up against the pillows and fuck his own pussy with his hand while Scott took Owen from behind and drew debauched groans from Owen’s throat. 

They only stopped when Avid started coming dry. “I can’t go another round,” he begged. He had lost track of how many times he had come, but the candles on the bedside table burned low. 

“I’m tapping out too,” Owen murmured, and flopped down on top of Avid. His weight would have crushed him, if it weren’t for Avid’s supernatural strength. Instead, it just felt like a weighted blanket. 

Scott sighed, and lied down in the space next to the both of them. “Next time, I want you in lingerie,” he looked at Avid, “and then I want to fuck you both on the dining room table.” 

Owen snorted. He tucked his face into Avid’s shoulder. “Shelby and Pyro would hate you.”

“Shelby might,” Scott corrected. “Pyro would never.” 

Owen snickered. “Yeah, you’re right.” 

Scott trailed his fingers up Avid’s side. “What do you think?” He implored softly. The soft light in the room and his post-orgasm glow made Avid feel like he was curled up with two lovers. “Would you want to join us again?” 

Avid pondered for a few seconds. “Yeah. You guys… you’re not as bad as I thought you were.” He shifted under Owen’s weight until Owen looked at him. “I’m sorry. I misunderstood you, and I didn’t treat you fairly. I’m sorry for kicking you out of town, and I’m sorry for accusing you of things you didn’t do.” He looked at both of them. “You guys are just trying to have your own community. And I can respect that, as long as you only turn people who consent.” 

Scott nodded. “That’s what we want to do.” He admitted softly. “Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, we get carried away, but never on purpose.” 

“What we have is a gift.” Owen added. “We don’t want to force that gift onto anyone who doesn’t want it.” 

“I did ask for it,” Avid confessed. His secret felt right to say in the moment, with two people who understood him better than anyone. “I was sick. I didn’t think there was a way for me to get better. I asked Shelby to do it.” 

Scott caressed his side. “We know,” he admitted. “Shelby told us. They wanted to keep it a secret, but it’s hard to lie to us.” 

Owen snorted. “It’s hard to keep secrets from family.” 

Avid looked from Owen to Scott. “You guys seem really close.” 

“We are.” Scott snickered. “We’re always in each other’s business all the time.” 

Avid looked away. “I’m… kinda jealous.” He professed. “Drift and I don’t keep secrets from each other, but I don’t have anyone else like that in my life.” 

Scott and Owen exchanged a look. “You’re always welcome to join us.” Owen said sincerely as he blinked his large, beautiful eyes down at Avid. “We’d love to have you here. We’d treat you like family too.” 

“And you could have your own room in the castle.” Scott added. “You’d never have to hide who you are from us.” 

Avid bit his lip in thought. The idea sounded tempting, but Drift was in the village, and he didn’t think she’d want to join them. Still, the prospect of a community, having a family, and seeing Shelby often weighed heavily in his mind. “I want to think about it.” He said firmly. 

Owen reached up to push a lock of Avid’s hair out of his eyes. “We understand.” He said quietly. “It’s an open invitation. Whenever you feel like you’re ready, we’re here.” 

They sat in silence for a few beats. Then Scott pulled away and sat up. “In the meantime, though,” he said as he stretched his arms around his head. “Do you guys want something to eat?” 

“Please.” Owen propped himself up on his elbows. “I’m starving.” 

“I could go for a bite.” Avid agreed, and then winced at his choice of words. 

Scott just laughed. “I’m sure you could.” He chuckled. 

Scott got up to fetch them bottles of blood while Owen and Avid cuddled on the bed. They drank together on the dirty sheets, and downed a few bottles to get their strength back up before Owen got up to get a washcloth. He wiped himself down, and then gently cleaned Avid up, taking extra care around his sensitive lower lips, before offering it to Scott, who declined and got up to get his own. 

“Can I have my old clothes back?” Avid asked when Scott and Owen began to get dressed. “I think a lot of the townsfolk will have questions if I show up wearing a skirt and blouse.” 

“They’re probably still in the bathroom.” Scott directed as he buttoned up his own shirt. “I sure as hell didn’t touch them.” 

Avid rolled his eyes. “Will you ever not be classist?” 

“Scott? Probably never,” Owen chortled as he stepped into his pants. “It’s one of his quirks. I can go get your clothes for you.” 

Avid smiled. “Thanks, I’d really appreciate it.” He said earnestly. 

Owen offered a small smile back. “You’re welcome.” And then he was gone from the room. 

Scott eyed Avid up and down. “I’m serious about the lingerie.” 

Avid looked away, flustered. “What would you even want me to wear?” 

“Thigh high stockings, for starters.” Scott raked his gaze over Avid’s nude body. “Garters and panties. Maybe a bra or a corset, if you’re up for it.” 

Avid couldn’t meet his gaze. “I’d be fine with a corset.” He said bashfully. 

Owen came back in the room, arms full with Avid’s clothes. “Here.” He dumped the clothes on the bed. Scott wrinkled his nose. “I figured you could get dressed, and we can give you some raw meat for the road?”

It sounded like a great idea. Avid remembered to grab the books from the library, and stuck them in his bag. They made their way back up to the dining room, where Scott cleared their plates and goblets from earlier and Owen presented him with raw steaks to take back with him. Avid accepted them with a smile. The castle didn’t feel as creepy anymore. If anything, the oak wood floors and brick walls felt homey. They were trying to make a life for themselves with what they had been given, and Avid could respect that. 

He set off for town, pockets full of steaks wrapped in butcher paper and a spring in his step. Twilight had fallen by now. Morning felt like a lifetime ago. 

Drift! Oh no, he had left Drift all alone in the woods. He sped up his pace. He hoped Drift had made it back to town okay, and she wasn’t still in the woods, presumably looking for him.

When he stumbled into town, the other townsfolk were gathered in the center in a loose ring. He spotted Drift. She was talking emphatically, her expression worried. “Drift!” He called as he ran up to her. Elation burst in his chest. “You’re okay!” 

“I’m okay?” Drift goggled. She wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.” 

The statement made Avid pause. “Why? Did something happen?” He asked when Drift let him go. The other townspeople watched them silently. Cleo’s mouth was set in a grim line. 

“Owen chased me around the woods for an hour!” Drift explained. “Right after I went to go get food, he ambushed me! I got so turned around, and I couldn’t find you. It took me hours just to get back to town.” 

Avid frowned. “Oh. I didn’t see Owen at all. I was hungry too, so I went off to get my own food, and then I went looking for you.”

It shouldn’t have been so easy to lie to Drift, his roommate and closest friend, but she seemed to buy it. She deflated. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” She wrapped Avid up in another tight hug.

“Well, this is touching,” Legundo averted his eyes. “But I’m going to leave, if everyone is okay.” He looked at Avid. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He turned and headed back towards his home. 

“You’re sure you didn’t see anything, laddie?” Ren asked. “Not even a glimpse of white hair? The vampires of the castle run wild in these forests, dontcha know.” 

Avid shook his head. “I didn’t see anything.” The gears in his brain turned. “I’m okay, I promise.” 

“We’re glad you’re okay.” Cleo added, but their eyes were narrow. They didn’t fully buy his story. “I’m going to turn in too.” 

“Goodnight, Avid.” Pearl chimed, her tone bright and sincere. They left together. 

“If you really didn’t see anything,” Martyn began as he chewed on his lip in thought, “Then… Ren? M? Can we have a meeting in the tavern?” 

“Of course.” M said. The three of them left together. M offered Avid a small smile and a wave goodbye. 

The other members of the town dispersed and went back to their respective homes for the night. When they were out of earshot, Avid felt his shoulders relax. “Drift.” He turned to face her. “I might have found something in the woods that explains what happened to my friend Elle.” 

“You did? Can you tell me when we get inside?” Drift asked. She looked exhausted, her skin pale and her eyes sunken. Avid felt guilt tinge in his chest. 

“Yes, absolutely,” he readily agreed. “Let’s go.” 

They both walked back to their home. Before they made it inside, Avid shot a glance over his shoulder, back towards the castle. He wondered if Scott and Owen had set this up. 

No, they had to have set it up. There was no way Owen just had to be conveniently chasing Drift while Scott convinced Avid to talk with him. They had clearly planned to get Avid alone and in the castle, but what beyond that had been planned and what had been in the heat of the moment?

He followed Drift inside and let the door shut behind him. He imagined Scott and Owen meeting him in the forest, neutral territory, to seduce him into going back to the castle. He knew what he would say. 

He couldn’t wait until he saw them again.