(no subject)

[worst_greatest_one]

I can't believe this is happening to me again.

I heft the Mage's Sword, holding it out in front of me to show that I'm ready to fight anyone who dares try it.

Alright, I can believe this is happening to me again, because it happens to me often, but after just one attempt on my life in Darrow, I thought things might be different here. No such luck. I seem to smell as good to vampires as to any other magickal creature, as good to these vampires as I do to my vampire, but where Baz just wants to kiss me to death, I think these actually want to eat me.

"Don't!" I shout as one of the three comes closer. Just one step, but they can move faster than that, can't they? Baz can move much faster, and I wonder if they're just playing with me. They could be keeping me here, waiting for someone else to come along and eat me. That rather pisses me off.

A lick of flame curls from my fingertips, wrapping itself around the hilt of my sword. The thing is, I'm not usually afraid in these sorts of situations. If things go too pear shaped, I'll simply explode and that will be the end of it. Say what you like about my crap casting, my magic is incredible, and there's not been anything short of the Humdrum powerful enough to withstand me when I explode.

But I really don't like to explode. I'm not much more than a bomb, but lately I've been pretending I might could be, and more than that - I'm squeamish about killing these vampires. They're dark creatures, I have no doubts on that. With their mouthfuls of teeth and the lust I can see clearly in their dark blown eyes, I know they haven't cornered me in this alley for a handshake. But if they're dark creatures, then so is Baz, and if I kill dark creatures, well. I've started thinking that perhaps I ought to be a bit more discriminatory about that. Me bursting in an alley and killing three of Baz's kind might send the wrong sort of message as his boyfriend.

I can't decide what to do, but that same teethy bloke steps even closer, and I'm running out of time.

"God, you smell good," he purrs at me, and I must hesitate one second too long, because the next thing I know my back is against the wall and my sword arm is pinned at my side, my head wrenched sideways for him to nose along my throat.

"Get off!" I shout, wriggling as the fear finally rolls in, and the air goes thick and red around us.

"Mm," the vampire hums, "Even better," and at his back the other two agree like a pair of drunken idiots, the lot of them getting shitfaced on my magic. They don't know it means I'm going to explode.

"Fuck," I murmur, and as my thoughts begin to blank out, I wonder what building at my back it is I'm about to destroy.

Comments

[sidestepdestiny]

I'm supposed to meet Simon for dinner. He was...wherever he was, and he texted me, and now here I am, out in the cold. But I guess I am expected to take him out every now and again, and I guess he's worth the cold, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I'm nearly there, when I smell it.

It's like a fucking campire, Simon's magic all flared up. I break into a run, pulling my wand out as I follow the scent. If I can smell Simon's magic a block away, that can't mean anything good.

I skid to a stop when I see him, backed into an alley. And then I smell them.

Vampires.

One is on Simon and I'm filled with so much rage I swear I see red. My heart feels like it's about to jump right out of my throat. I try to think quickly. I should set them on fire, but they're too close to Simon. And what if they're some other world vampires who aren't flammable like me?

I need a spell. I need to distract.

"Get off him!" I bark, and for maybe the first time in my life I'm genuinely terrified. "Hit the floor!" I cast on the vampire with his face too fucking close to Simon's neck, but another gets in the way, baring his fangs at me, and he's thrown backwards instead.

[worst_greatest_one]

Something sparks at the edge of my consciousness, a familiar smoke like cedar filling my nose instead of the stink of the alley, and I try to edge my way back.

"Relax, little tooth, there's plenty to share," someone says too close to my ear, and as awareness filters back I realize he's talking to Baz. Baz.

I jerk my sword up, high enough to slash the vampire holding me in the ribs, and wriggle as hard as I can but he's so strong. Fuck, this is how strong Baz is always hinting that he is, and I'd really, really rather be feeling his hands on me right now. I try to see him over the vampire's shoulder, but it's crowding into my vision, snarling and angry now.

"Don't," I bark out, magic rising up like a slap that pushes him backwards towards Baz. I pull my sword back up, trying to figure out what to do. I don't dare do any spells to hurt a vampire, Merlin knows they might not stop at the ones I want to hit, but I'm only good with my sword when the enemy is slow, and these are anything but.

[sidestepdestiny]

I grab at the vampire when he's thrown toward me, and slam him to the ground, snarling. It's a blurred tumble as we fight for the upper hand, but I have the advantage. I don't think he realizes I'm not here to try and take his meal. I don't think he realizes I'll fucking kill him.

I throw the vampire off me and point my wand at him.

"Ring of fire!"

The spell surrounds him with a wall of fire, and, thrown off by when I threw him, he stumbles back into it. With a scream, he goes up in flames. I whip around to face the other two, eyes gone all black, fangs out. "Who's next!?"

[worst_greatest_one]

I feel spelled to the spot as they wrestle on the ground, magic escaping me in waves as my heart cranks faster. The enraged vampires are terrifying, but frankly so is Baz, and I nearly crumple in relief when Baz emerges from the snarling blur of limbs with his wand out.

The other vampire goes up like oil paper, and I think, oh, we are killing them, and then I think that that fire is far too bloody close to Baz. "Make a wish!" I cast to put it out, but that huff of magic tears it, and I feel a set of hands yanking me backwards.

"Smell so good," says the third vampire in my ear, and before I can even pull a face for its bad breath, I feel a sharp pressure in my neck, horror making my knees go weak when I realise he's got his teeth in me.

[sidestepdestiny]

One of the vampires has Simon. I don't think, there isn't time to think. "No!" I yell, the sound torn from my throat. Any spell I use will hurt Simon, too, so I lunge for the vampire to tear him away-- but the other vampire jumps on me, slams me into the wall, yelling about how I'm a species traitor or something.

I fight with him, snarling like some kind of beast. I get a punch in, with my wand hand, and shout, "Let there be light!" Right in his face. It's not sunlight, but it's enough to temporarily blind him so I can scramble back and cast another immolation spell when I've put enough distance between us.

I don't watch to see if the spell works, I point at Simon and the vampire and cast, "Hit the floor!" It sends them both down, but the force of it separates them which is all I needed.

"Garlic breath!" I cast next.

It sounds innocent, but it's an advanced spell, made specifically for vampires. It fills their blood, whatever blood they've drank, with garlic. I've never cast it before, but I must be desperate enough because it works. The vampire screams in agony, burning up from the inside, and eventually goes quiet, limp. Dead.

"Simon." I finally look at him. I'm breathing hard and I feel like the spell was cast on me when I see his neck, bloody and stained red. I can smell it, and in the middle of feeling like my entire world is crumbling, I want it. That's how fucking loathsome I am. "No, please...please tell me he didn't bite you."

[worst_greatest_one]

I hit the ground hard enough to ring my bell, surrounded by horrible screams, but they're not my own. When it goes quiet again, I look up to find Baz standing over me, and he doesn't need to speak for me to know what he's feeling.

"Baz," I say quietly, shifting up on an elbow. Blood courses hot down over my collarbone, and I press my hand over the ache in my neck. "Stop," I whisper. It does, the wound still ragged beneath my hand, but no more blood comes, and for now that will have to be enough.

"Baz," I say again, watching his expression contort with hatred. It's not for me, not really, but knowing that it's aimed at himself doesn't make me feel any less ill. I could be a vampire. It wouldn't be the worst thing. Baz not winning that fight with the first vampire, Baz in the fire in its place, that would have been the worst thing.

"It's alright, love."

[sidestepdestiny]

Simon says my name and stops the blood from leaking out of his body, and all I can do is stare at him at first. "It's not alright," I snap, my throat thick like it's closing up. I almost want to tell him not to call me that, that I don't deserve it, like I'm the one who's done it. I force my fangs back, and hope that my eyes are normal. I ignore the scent of his blood, as provocative and compelling as it is, and I think I can because I'm so afraid.

I hit him with as many healing spells as I think could possibly have any affect, knowing they won't work. I wonder if this is how my father felt when I was five years old? I remember Father and Fiona casting spell after smell, the scent of their magic thick in the air. It hadn't worked then, it's not going to work now.

At least I can get rid of the blood, and somehow I manage to close the wounds. I run out of spells and kneel down in front of him, gingerly touching his throat. "I'm sorry, Simon," I tell him, something pleading and raw in my voice. "I'm so sorry."

[worst_greatest_one]

I lose track of how many spells he uses on me, and though I want him to stop after the first, I let him go on. My throat is fixed straight away, most of the dizziness that came in the wake of being gnawed on gone as well, but still Baz goes on.

I sit still and let his magic wash over me, let him clean me, because the truth is I don't know how to make this better. "It's alright," I tell him when he finally joins me on the ground, closing my hand over his at my throat. I take a breath. Should I feel stronger, faster? Should I hunger for something more than food now? I don't.

I want a sandwich, not blood, but I don't know how all this works. "Baz," I say, squeezing his hand, "Perhaps I'm alright."

[sidestepdestiny]

"You're not," I tell him, even though I want him to be, more than anything. I'd give up my magic if it meant he could stay human. I keep touching his neck, stroking with my fingers, trying to figure some way out of this. "Wait-- do you think...do you think Magnus is powerful enough to stop this?"

He's the strongest magic user I know, aside from Snow, so much that sometimes I'm honestly unsure which of them is more powerful.

[worst_greatest_one]

"I don't know," I say honestly, catching both of Baz's wrists. He looks so miserable, I'd give anything to take this look from his face. I should have just killed the vampires when I first had the chance.

"Baz, I don't feel any different," I tell him. "Perhaps it didn't work. Perhaps they're not even the same sort of vampire as the kind that turned you."

[sidestepdestiny]

"I don't know that it manifests right away, Simon," I say softly, curling my fingers around his. I press my forehead to his and close my eyes a moment, trying to imagine a vampire whose fangs aren't toxic. Spencer told me some vampires in Darrow like to feed off people, that they don't drain them, and that those people let it happen. Perhaps some don't turn people by a mere bite, but how, then?

I wish I had Katherine's number to ask her, maybe she would know. But I have nothing, no guide, no google search to help me.

"Let's go," I say finally. I pull my face away from his and glance around the alley. The vampire who I killed by garlic is still lying there, not turned to dust as the two I set on fire. "Let's just...get out of here."

[worst_greatest_one]

I nod and stand, my knees all but knocking together as the last excitement of the fight leaves my system. I'd like to get out of here, too, away from the corpse and what remains of the two others. Moreover, I'd like to get Baz out of here.

"C'mon," I say, holding his hand tightly to pull him along and away from the corpse. I've never heard that spell before. I wonder where Baz learned it, if he ever feared that someone might try it on him. That I might. The thought makes me so ill that I turn and say, "Take it away. Take it away!" until it's gone, and part of the pavement, too.

I don't care where it went. I'd magic us away just as quickly if I could.

[sidestepdestiny]

I stare in silence as the corpse just disappears, taking a chunk of sidewalk with it, until Simon's pulling me again, out of the alley and away from it all. Simon's magic is incredible. It doesn't seem like even a vampire should be able to hurt him. Like his magic should be strong enough to reject it. Have I even ever seen him ill?

As we walk away I let go of his hand to put my arm around his shoulders, pulling our bodies as close as can be while still walking. "I'll take care of you, I promise."

[worst_greatest_one]

Baz stares so long that for a moment I wonder if he's afraid of me. He'd be right to be. Thus far, what my magic can do is unparalleled even in Darrow, and it's nothing to brag about, and my knees want to buckle all over again when he puts his arm around me.

"I know," I say, holding a fistful of his shirt in my hand as we walk. It's a bit awkward, but I don't let go. He killed them. All three of them, and just for hurting me. I don't want to ask him, but I do, the questions bubbling out of me as fast as the blood had from my throat. "Have you done that before?" I ask. "Ended something like that?"

I can't stop thinking about that poor dragon. I'll never stop. Merlin, I don't want him to feel like I do. "Baz, are you alright?"

[sidestepdestiny]

"No," I say, staring straight ahead, jaw clenched. I don't want to tell him I'd do it again, a hundred times over. They're dark creatures. They could eat raccoon and deer just as easily as I do, what's stopping them? They made their choice, and they got what they deserved. I didn't like it, it's not that I want to kill, but I can't think about it that way, I won't. I'd do anything for Simon, that's all that matters.

Am I alright?

I feel like I can't breathe, I feel like the weight of what's happened to Simon is crushing me. I pull him aside, toward the buildings. My hands shake, unsteady and reaching for his face, wanting to look into his eyes. "I'm not alright. I don't want this for you. Can't you see it? I love you."

[worst_greatest_one]

"Baz," I exhale, glad my back is against the wall, my traitorous knees knocking together all over again. "Do you?"

It's not that I doubt him. It's just that my whole life, I think it's only Penny who's loved me. Not the parents who surrendered me, not the caretakers, not Agatha. Not even the Mage, no matter how much I wanted him to. For a person like Baz to love me is something that's incredible.

Baz is incredible.

I look at him, and he looks like his heart is breaking. That's not at all how I want to make someone who loves me feel. "I don't care what I am," I say honestly. Human, vampire, rotten mage, the whole lot of it can get stuffed. I have no idea how I'm supposed to care when he's said he loves me.

Especially when I realize I love him back.

I smile up at him, put my hands on his waist and squeeze. "It really will be alright, Baz."

[sidestepdestiny]

I shake my head, because he has no idea. "You're an idiot, Simon Snow," I tell him, but I can't even manage to make it sound angry.

He hasn't rejected me, or laughed, or told me it's too much. I hadn't meant to tell him, but I've already made myself vulnerable to him in every other way, so what's it matter?

I run my fingers through his hair, stroke my thumb down his cheek. No one ever tells you how awful it is to love someone, sometimes, when they're hurting and you're helpless to change it. He's not hurting yet, but I don't want Simon to see people the way I see them, or be afflicted with blood lust. I breathe in and I don't smell it on him yet, but surely it's there.

"I don't know what to do," I admit, my voice gone soft.

[worst_greatest_one]

It shouldn't feel so good, him touching me so tenderly when I know he feels so awful, and I drag my eyes back open. "Me either," I tell him, but I'm not afraid. I don't want to be a vampire, but I could stand it with Baz to help me.

"I feel as I always have," I say. "We could test it. What's something that only affects vampires like you? Apart from fire." I gaze worriedly at Baz. "I don't want to light you up too by accident."

[sidestepdestiny]

"Darling, you'll know," I say. There's nothing to test. I don't remember much about being human, but I know humans don't hunger the way I do. I can't recall, either, how long it took my body, my senses, everything to change. I'd been so young.

I don't want to get my hopes up that he hasn't been affected yet, only to have them crash down later.

"Do you want to go home? Would you like me to call Magnus?" I ask. "He may have an idea of how to proceed. He's known more vampires than me." I smile weakly. All I know is that I can't stomach the thought of sitting in a restaurant right now.

[worst_greatest_one]

"Of course we're going home," I tell him, tipping my chin up to press a soft kiss to his worried mouth. "We'll call Magnus." I don't particularly want to be prodded, but Baz needs to set his mind one way or the other.

Catching Baz's face in my hands, I pull him down for a proper kiss, marveling a little at how calm I feel. At home, I'd have lost my mind if a vampire had bitten me, but I know it doesn't make me evil now. It'd make me like Baz, and that's not so terrible, is it?

[sidestepdestiny]

"Alright," I say quietly, giving in to his kiss. It's not enough yet to ease the worried knot in my stomach, but it's a nice distraction, and never unwelcome. Simon still smells like Simon, his touch still feels the same as ever. It still sends tiny sparks under my skin. I cup his face and deepen the kiss, wanting to hold on just a few moments longer.

[worst_greatest_one]

Baz's mouth opens, and I pull him to me, take hold of his hips and keep him close. I think I am an idiot, because I'm not afraid of anything with him at my side. "Home," I say against his lips, my body clamoring for more of him, and shamelessly I wonder if there will be time for a bit more touching when Magnus has come and gone.

[sidestepdestiny]

"Mm," I murmur in reply, not moving far enough to even nod just yet. I do, though, after a long moment, and take his hand to walk with him back to Dimera.

When we get back to our flat I text Magnus to see if he can stop by, hoping he's not busy. I don't know if I should have called him immediately, I don't know if any of it will do any good.

[high_warlock]

Lucky for Baz, Magnus hadn't been doing anything exciting when he received his text. He asked for help, but without much urgency. Maybe that was simply a combination of texting and Baz's dry demeanor rather than an indicator of the scale of emergency. Either way, Alec wasn't over, nor anyone else, so Magnus put some going out clothes on, fixed his hair, and teleported to their front door.

Just inside their front door.

"Please let me be interrupting something!" His eyes, lined in a deep, sparkling purple today, were wide and expectant.

[worst_greatest_one]

Baz hasn't been able to sit down, so I haven't either, standing awkwardly near the kitchen table when Magnus pops into the room. It really is a neat trick, but there's very little time to appreciate it just now.

"Hello," I say, walking over to him.

I'm not a vampire. I would feel it, I know I would, but it doesn't seem right to demand that Magnus say so. The thing is, if he says different, I don't know what Baz is going to do. "Thanks for coming. We have a problem," I tell him quietly, as if Baz can't hear, and cut right to it.

"Do you know a vampire on sight?"